Pacific Symphony opens its Pops season tonight and tomorrow with a program headlined by David Foster. But conductor Albert-George Schram and the orchestra begin the program with the Overture to “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss, Jr., which for my money
Great moments in film music: ‘The Big Store’
For the fun of it, another in an occasional series … Chico and Harpo Marx play piano four hands in “The Big Store.”
Pacific Overtures
Here’s our new monthly newsletter, Pacific Overtures. It is written and curated by yours truly. Much of this month’s content has appeared on this blog, but every month will be a little different in that regard. Click on the link
Review: Louisville Orchestra, Teddy Abrams: ‘All In’
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Teddy Abrams is the 30-year-old music director of the venerable Louisville Orchestra and he’s at least a quadruple threat: Conductor, composer, clarinetist and pianist. The young man, a protege of Michael Tilson Thomas, is stirring things up
Pacific Symphony: October concerts
Here’s a quick rundown of Pacific Symphony’s October concerts, 12 in all, with ticket links. First off, the orchestra will appear in the ongoing series of Harry Potter films presented by the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Born and raised
‘Harry Potter’ comes to O.C. courtesy of home-grown conductor
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Only a handful of people will know the answer to the following bit of extreme trivia: Who is the only musician born and raised in Orange County to have conducted the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra,
Top six posts on Pacific Symphony Blog
Catch up on the ones you missed or enjoy the thrill of reading them again. Concert etiquette for beginners. June 13, 2017. A swan song and a ‘Resurrection’: John Alexander takes the next step in a long career. June 5,
Radio: ‘On stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’
A radio piece, in which I am interviewed, about what it sounds like on stage playing in a symphony orchestra. Gideon Brower produced. On stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Public Radio International, Studio 360, Sept. 21, 2017.
5 Tips on How to Listen to Classical Music
By TIMOTHY MANGAN It has come to my attention that some people – friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues, folks met at parties – don’t know how to listen to classical music. They are interested in getting into it (some of them),
Great moments in film music: ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (The Duel)
Music by Ennio Morricone. Notice the play of major and minor harmonies, worthy of Schubert. Also notice that Morricone knows when to be silent. The harmonica music is a leitmotif, brimming with meaning, as the sequence makes clear. The clip