REVIEW: LACO - Beethoven's Pastoral (Orchestral Series)

Review: Beethoven's Pastoral (PHOTO CREDITS: Mike Mancillas)

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s program was a perfect mix of classics and contemporary music that delivered an outstanding evening (Nov. 18) for the connoisseur of music. Led by Austrian conductor David Danzmayr, Beethoven’s Pastoral (part of the Orchestral Series) opens with Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Straussiana which is based on some lesser-known works by Johann Strauss, Jr. Danzmayr shines and it is impossible not to enjoy the uplifting three parts: Polka, Mazurka and Waltz.

Dissertations have been written on the music of Gyorgy Liegeti and his Violin Concerto. But, it is the live witnessing of brilliant Jennifer Koh, the American born of Korean parents violinist who astonishes any intellectual. Koh takes on the daunting challenge of playing difficult works which are not always the taste of the audience.

Danzmayr ends as he began with joyful music conducting Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony and the delightful six movements played dynamically and skillfully by the orchestra.

The three composers have all had their music heard in films. Korngold wrote the score for "Robin Hood" in 1938, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and "Captain Blood" which earned an Oscar nomination. Ligeti collaborations with Stanley Kubrick include "2001: A Space Odyssey," "The Shining" and "Eyes Wide Shut." Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 was featured in the classic Walt Disney film, "Fantasia."

This concert by Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) was given on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at Royce Hall, UCLA. The orchestra’s next concert will feature Avi Avital, one of the world’s greatest living mandolinists performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons December 11 (Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara) December 13 (Zipper Hall) and December 14 (St. Monica Catholic Church).

For more information and tickets visit LACO.