Classical Life

Been meaning to get to this.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has revealed its March tour programs, destined for performance in New York and Europe, with music director Gustavo Dudamel as conductor.

Program 1

MAHLER:  Symphony No. 3 in D minor

Program 2

WILLIAMS:  Soundings
GINASTERA:  Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28
NORMAN:  Play: Level 1
COPLAND:  Appalachian Spring Suite

All I can say is terrific.

Program 1 features a far from overexposed Mahler symphony, certainly one of the most satisfying for listeners, with one of the composer’s best first movements. The trombone solo therein is also quite special.

Program 2, if you will notice, is All-American, with the Ginastera (a South American) in place for the centennial of his birth, and the music of two living Americans and the most celebrated dead one filling up the remainder of the program.

John Williams’ Soundings, composed for the opening of Disney Concert Hall, should become a part of the regular repertoire, in my opinion.

Alex Ross considers Andrew Norman’s Play to be one of the best pieces written in the 21st century so far.

And Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite (emphasis on Suite) is just the right closer, the complete work being much too long and, frankly, tiresome in concert performance.

It’s uncommon tour programming.

Dudamel and the orchestra will perform these programs in David Geffen Hall in New York, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Philharmonie in Paris, The Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte Concert Hall in Luxembourg, and at the Barbican in London. They will also perform a one-off at the Barbican: Messiaen’s Des canyons aux étoiles. Excellent.