Even though the centennial season of the Los Angeles Philharmonic is all-too-quickly approaching its end, there is still plenty of excitement to be found. Take the three performances named Dudamel Conducts Mozart and Adés. The performances – all matinees – take place Friday through Sunday.
The first of Mozart’s five violin concerti is part of this program. Michael Barenboim is the soloist. Mozart’s last symphony, the 41st, is also on the program. This is Mozart’s longest symphony and it was given the nickname Jupiter.
While we love Mozart just like everyone else, what excites us about this program is the world premiere of Inferno by composer/pianist/conductor Thomas Adés.
The program notes quote the composer as saying the music is “a grateful tribute to Franz Liszt, the composer of Hell and demonic music.”
Adés takes the name from Dante’s Divine Comedy. This is the first part of music for a ballet. The second part of the music will have its premiere in 2020. The commission wasn’t specifically for a ballet, but that is the direction this piece has gone.
There are, rather appropriately, 13 parts to this approximately 40 minute work. They are:
The Portal
The Selfish
The Ferryman
Pavan of the Souls in Limbo
Paolo and Francesca
The Gluttons
The Suicides
The Deviants
The Fortune-tellers
The Popes
The Hypocrites
The Thieves
Satan
Adés has composed operas, concerti, chamber music and song cycles. He also wrote the film score for Wash Westmoreland’s film Colette that was released last year. (His score should have been nominated for an Academy Award in our humble opinion.)
On July 12th and 13th, the Royal Ballet and Company will be performing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Wayne McGregor is the choreographer and director of the show called Adés & McGregor: A Dance Collaboration. It is here that the marriage of dance and this music will be presented.
It’s been a busy 2019 for Adés. In March his Piano Concerto had its world premiere with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Come for the Mozart. Stay for Inferno.
For tickets on Friday go here; Saturday here. Sunday appears to be sold out.
Photo of Thomas Adés by Brian Voce/Courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
