Left Coast - Right Coast

Around 25 years ago Manfred Eicher created the ECM New Series with Arvo Part's incredible Tabula Rasa recording. I remember listening to this powerful, mystical music in awe. Many of the subsequent New Series and Arvo Part recordings have also been very special. Those of you who have read previous entries may recall that I attended a brilliant concert by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir a few weeks ago. I think it was one of the most important and pleasurable concerts of the season. So, for those of you on the two coasts, I have some great news. Don't miss the two world premier performances of works by Arvo Part this weekend! Grab your tickets while they last!!!

Left Coast

Walt Disney Concert Hall (Map/Directions)

111 South Grand AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90012 323.850.2000
Performances:
Saturday, January 10, 2009, 8:00 PM
Sunday, January 11, 2009, 2:00 PM
Featured Artists:
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano

Program:
Mozart: Overture to Der Schauspieldirektor

Pärt: Symphony No. 4, “Los Angeles” (World Premiere, LAPA commission)

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1

Right Coast

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)New York, NY 10128-0173

Arvo Pärt
Monday, January 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
Lauren Flanigan, Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, and Sébastien Marcovici perform in an all-Pärt evening featuring the U.S. premiere of the operatic monologue L’Abbe Agathon, with visual concept created by Sophie Calle. Christopher Wheeldon’s Liturgy, set to Fratres, and After the Rain pas de deux, set to Spiegel im Spiegel, will also be performed. The staged premiere of L’Abbe Agathon is commissioned by American Opera Projects and Works & Process.

Hearing L'Abbe Agathon alone will be worth the price of admission. Such a lovely piece.

In honor of the 25 year anniversary ECM New Series will be releasing Arvo Part's In Principio March 3rd. This recording, destined for your collection, contains four world premiers as well as new versions of "Da Pacem Domine", and of "Mein Weg".

To check out a performance of "Da Pacem Domine" follow this link:

http://kineticmedianyc.com/arvopart.html

For those of you on the Coasts I hope you will not miss these terribly special concerts. Hearing this music live is a moving experience.

The Best Christmas Music

A few weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure of attending a concert by The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & The Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. The program was as follows:

Arvo Part - Walfahrtslied

Erkki-Sven Tuur - Requiem

Arvo Part - Da Pacem

Intermission

Arvo Part - L'Abbe Agathon

Antonio Vivaldi - Beatus vir, RV 597 for two choirs and two orchestras

Both the choir and orchestra were in fine tune. Tonu Kaljuste able to direct them with the greatest range of dynamics and expression.

For an encore we were treated to what I believe is the best Christmas Music for 2008:

May Jesus, Thee Be Praised

from Tonu Korvits's Kreek's Notebook

A stunning and uplifting end to one of the most important and beautiful concerts of the season.