Program
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- Frenzy: a short symphony
- US premiere
- LA Phil commission
- with generous support from the Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund
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- Intermission
About this Performance
Stravinsky’s thrilling and visceral vision of pagan Russian ritual and sacrifice set off a rhythmic revolution and has become something of a signature piece for the LA Phil, offering a rite of passage for music directors to leave their own musical fingerprints on the transfixing ballet score. Dudamel’s rendition has been praised by the Los Angeles Times for unleashing the “uncontrollable disastrous forces in us” balanced with “the musical mastery” needed to control that superhuman musical intensity.
Dudamel pairs The Rite of Spring with The Firebird suite, another of Stravinsky’s ballets, filled with romance and magic that concludes with melodic majesty. Opening the program is the US premiere of LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams’ Frenzy: a short symphony. Inspired by the feeling of processing the modern world and its incessant digital drip of news, Frenzy is rhythmically driven in its own right—unwinding an aura of agita through a hall of mirrors into “a tense nocturnal chase, with a touch of film noir glamour” (Daily Telegraph).
A note from Gustavo Dudamel
If the LA Phil has a signature piece, it’s The Rite of Spring. Stravinsky shocked the world when it was first performed more than a century ago, and even today, it still feels bold, modern, and full of energy—just like this orchestra. At the same time, there’s something ancient and raw in the way the music brings the earth to life.
Just a few years before The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky composed The Firebird. It’s a very different kind of music—more lyrical and colorful. While The Rite explores the raw energy of nature, The Firebird tells a story through sound, with vivid characters and moments of real beauty and surprise. This piece is so special for our orchestra, so much so that we will be incorporating it into our tour of Asia this October.
We open the concert with the US premiere of Frenzy, a powerful new work by my dear friend and longtime collaborator, John Adams. John and I both began our journeys with the LA Phil in 2009, and over these last 16 seasons, we have grown so much together through music. It’s a privilege to bring his latest piece to life with this extraordinary orchestra. —Gustavo Dudamel
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Enhance Your Experience
Upbeat Live with Mike Basak
Event starts at 1:00PM
Before the concert, some of the sharpest musical minds around–including guest artists–guide you through the evening’s music. This free event is held in BP Hall accessible after your ticket is scanned.
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