California Festival
- By J. Cook
The California Festival is upon us at the LA Phil. What is the California Festival? A statewide musical showcase that many music venues are taking part in to find the most compelling and forward-looking voices in performances written in the past five years. Your correspondent was surprised to find such a polished website covering the scope of the program at cafestival.org.
What does that mean at the Phil? Gustavo Dudamel will be leading many world premieres, ranging from Latin American artists to new works from cutting-edge composers. For example, on the 9th, Dudamel will be backing up iconic protest songs, or cantos en resistencia with Lila Downs, Catalina García, Goyo, Ely Guerra, and Ana Tijoux. This will continue for the next two nights, featuring Silvana Estrada, to complete the cycle of cantos. That Sunday, the 12th, the music will retreat to the organ and piano recital by James McVinnie. After opening with music by Smith, Monk and Muhly, he will conclude with Bach and Glass, which somehow still feels modern after four hundred years and sixty years (respectively, duh).
Just prior to that, on the 7th, there will be a collection of three new works by Washington, Pereira and Day, followed by the only trio Mozart ever wrote, aka a fun diversion.
Finally, from then 16th-19th, Dudamel will take the stage with Tango and Ballet, Featuring the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (hot, muggy, rainy, nice?) by Piazzolla, then Ortiz’s Revolución diamantina. Lots of new vibrations await… Get your tickets now!
For tickets and line up, click here.