By Charlene Baldridge / SDUN Theatre Critic
According to artistic director/CEO Christopher Beach, the really good news is that La Jolla Music Society (LJMS) just ended its fiscal year in the black, no mean trick in a global economy that also occasioned a switch in LJMS’ Celebrity Orchestra Series, which begins at Copley Symphony Hall Thursday, Oct. 28.
“I’ve been waiting 21 years to present the Dresden Staatskapelle, which is the oldest orchestra in the world,” said Beach, who just happened to be listening to the Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, which they play with Rudolf Buchbinder at the piano and conductor Daniel Harding on the podium. Buchbinder has more than 100 recordings to his credit, among them the complete Beethoven Sonatas on Teldec.
Because the Vienna Philharmonic always attracts a large audience, they play under the baton of Semyon Bychkov Friday, March 4, at the Civic Theatre. Programmed are two second symphonies, Schumann’s in C Major and Johannes Brahms’ in D Major.
Global economics occasioned a change of considerable magnitude for the Sunday, April 17, announced concert, which would have featured the National Orchestra of Spain. Evidently the Spanish government was compelled to make draconian cuts in arts funding, and the reduction in the National Orchestra’s subsidy resulted in the cancellation of their entire North American tour. Beach, who has excellent international ties, announced recently that the China Philharmonic Orchestra with Maestro Long Yu will substitute for Spain. The repertoire remains much the same, including Igor Stravinisky’s “Firebird Suite,” and Renaud Capuçon still performs Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, only with a different orchestra and conductor.
The LJMS season presents two special events at the Balboa Theatre, the Kodo Drummers of Japan, whose instruments resonate to your boots, Friday, Feb. 11; and incomparable Japanese violinist Midori, who plays sonatas by Maurice Ravel, Beethoven and Camille Saint-Saëns as well as J.S. Bach’s Sonata in E Major for Violin and Keyboard. This recital is scheduled Sunday, Dec. 5.
Also in the season is LJMS Dance Series, which due to its extreme popularity presents The Joffrey Ballet on Friday, March 11, at the Civic Theatre.
The Trey McIntyre Project, which Beach calls “one of the sexiest companies around,” performs at 2 and 8 pm Saturday, April 16, at Birch North Park Theatre. Then LJMS presents Complexions Contemporary Ballet, bound to be attractive because the troupe and Desmond Richardson, one of its two artistic directors, have been featured on television’s “So You Think You Can Dance” numerous times. They perform at 2 and 8 pm Saturday, May 7, at Birch North Park Theatre. Of special note, the engaging dancer/choreographer Peter Kalivas delivers lectures one hour prior to dance curtain times.
“We love the North Park Theatre,” said Beach. “It’s perfect for our dance series. It’s perfect for our jazz series.
Beach is ecstatic about the Jazz Series at the Birch, this year fulfilling another of his dreams, to present “three great ladies who cover three other great ladies.” Dee Dee Bridgewater sings Billie Holiday (Feb. 26), Dianne Reeves sings Sarah Vaughan (April 29), and Marlena Shaw sings Dinah Washington (May 14). Claudia Russell of Jazz 88 interviews each artist one hour before curtain.
In addition to the aforementioned series, LJMS also presents the Revelle Chamber Music Series and the Frieman Family Piano Series at La Jolla’s MCASD Sherwood Auditorium, and the 3 p.m. Sunday Discovery Series at La Jolla’s Neurosciences Institute (child admission only $5).
Depending on venue and attraction, single tickets range from $25 to $105. Unless otherwise noted above, all concerts commence at 8 p.m. The Civic Theatre is located at 202 C Street, downtown; the Balboa Theatre at 868 4th Avenue, downtown; Birch North Park Theatre at 2891 University Avenue, North Park. For additional programming and artists, visit www.ljms.org or call (858) 459-3728.
