Here are your highlights for the weekend of January 26-28:
Sandoval Jazz Weekend – The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
January 26-28
Arturo Sandoval plays the trumpet, the piano and composes. This Cuban-American musician has 10 Grammy Awards, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and an Emmy Award…so far. For this weekend he is presenting some of the best young musicians he’s found amongst his world travels. He will also be headlining a sold out concert on Saturday night. If you were at the Hollywood Bowl for last summer’s La La Land in Concert events, he played the solo during the dream ballet sequence at those concerts. For more details, I’ll let Sandoval explain it himself:
Candide – LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
January 27 – February 18
This opera/operetta/musical (depending on when composer Leonard Bernstein talked about it) was not amongst his greatest successes. Nonetheless, in it he gave the world the lovely “Glitter and Be Gay” and “Make Your Garden Grow.” Of course, there’s also the overture which you can hear by click on the video just below. Kelsey Grammer and Christine Ebersole star in this production at LA Opera. Francesca Zambello directs and James Conlon conducts the orchestra. This production is part of the worldwide celebration of the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth.
The Operatic American Playwright – Boston Court Performing Arts Center
January 27th
This one night only concert features works from opera that were based on or inspired by the work of American playwrights. There will also be some popular songs reflective of the period as well. The event is timed to coincide with a new production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire that Boston Court will be presenting started February 15th. Soprano Amanda Squitieri, accompanied by Mark Robson on the piano, will explore a range of women created by not just by Williams, but also Lanford Wilson, Arthur Miller and others. A pre-performance chat will take place at 7:15 PM.
Herbie Hancock in Concert – Walt Disney Concert Hall
January 27th
Even though there are absolutely no details about what Herbie Hancock and his quartet will be performing, does it matter? The jazz legend, who serves as the Creative Chair for Jazz at the LA Philharmonic, has 14 Grammy Awards and has worked with such giants as Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea. He also has an Academy Award for his work on ‘Round Midnight. Joining Hancock are Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, James Genus on bass, Terrace Martin on keyboards and sax and Elena Pinderhughes on flute and vocals.
