Best Bets: August 17th – August 23rd:

John Turturro and Paul Giamatii tackle Ionesco and Gustavo Dudamel says his last farewell to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Best Bets: August 17th – August 23rd. I’ve got a new musical, chamber music and a tribute to Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue for you as well.

RHINOCEROS – American Repertory Theater – Boston, MA – Now – September 27^th

OPENING NIGHT: August 21^st

Eugene Ionesco’s play had its world premiere in 1959 in Düsseldorf. It is widely believed that it was the playwright’s response to the rise of fascism and Nazism leading up to World War II. I wonder what prompted ART to produce this play at this point in our lives?

Rhinoceros tells the story of Bérenger and his friend Jean. One by one the people around them turn into rhinos. Even Jean transforms into one. The dilemma facing Bérenger is does he fall in lockstep with the herd mentality or maintain his individuality and moral compass.

John Turturro plays Bérenger. Paul Giamatti plays Jean. Tatiana Maslany plays Daisy, the woman Béregner loves.

Diane Paulus directs.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

FREAK THE MIGHTY – Seattle Rep – Seattle, WA – Now – September 6^th

This is the world premiere production for this new musical by composer Ryan Fielding Garrett and book writer and lyricist Anthony Drewe. It’s based on the novel by Rodman Philbrick that was published in 1993.

It tells the story of Kevin “Freak” Avery (Cornelius Kittrell) and Maxwell Kane (Netza Jimenez) – two guys who team up to make their place in a world that they feel doesn’t have room for them.

The musical is set in the 1990s and will likely wear a bit of its heart on its sleeve – but who can’t use something heartwarming these days?

Could this be Broadway bound? The website says this is from the producers of Come From Away, so don’t be surprised if Freak The Mighty finds its way in New York in an upcoming season.

Michael Barakiva directs.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA 2026 CONFERENCE – Multiple Venues – Chicago, IL – August 20^th – August 23^rd

Fans of chamber music and professionals in the field will want to head to Chicago for the CMA conference. There are a lot of panels and performances. There are two performances that are available for the public and one of them is free.

On August 20^th, CMA presents A Night of Jazz at Constellation. The artists performing art Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, Huu Bac Quintet and Andy Milne & Unison. Tickets are $30 plus service fees and are available HERE.

Saturday, August 22^nd there is an all-day Chamber Music Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Amongst the artists performing in the morning and afternoon are Banana Acid, Jupiter String Quartet, Solidaire and Telegraph Quartet.

The program picks up again for the gala concert at 8:00 PM featuring Art Song Chicago, Civitas Ensemble, Eighth Blackbird, Imani Winds, Ryan Cohan Two Quartets and Third Coast Percussion.

For more information, please go HERE.

‘KIND OF BLUE BIRTHDAY’ CELEBRATION (MILES DAVIS CENTENNIAL) – SFJAZZ at Home – August 21^st – August 22^nd

On May 25, 2023, the following artists came together to celebrate Miles Davis’ legendary album Kind of Blue: Donald Harrison on alto saxophone; Eddie Henderson on trumpet; Javon Jackson on tenor saxophone; Lenny White on drums; Patrice Rushen on piano and Rodney Whitaker on bass.

They perform all five tracks: So What, Freddie Freeloader, Blue in Green, All Blues and Flamenco Sketches. They perform two additional tunes: On Green Dolphin Street and Walkin’.

This concert will be available to live stream on August 21^st at 7:30 PM PT. There’s a second opportunity to see it on Saturday, August 22^nd at 11 AM PT.

To access this and a whole library of shows from SFJAZZ requires a membership at the $100 level or $85 for seniors. The Kind of Blue Birthday Celebration would then be available to you on demand beginning August 28^th. You can also get a trial membership for free.

For more details about this concert and membership, please go HERE.

A CONCERT FOR VENEZUELA: A BENEFIT TO SUPPORT EARTHQUAKE RELIEF – Los Angeles Philharmonic – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA – August 23^rd

This week marks Gustavo Dudamel’s final week as the Music & Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  This is his final concert in that role. What was originally going to be a celebration of Dudamel and the LA Phil musicians is now a fundraiser to help victims of the June 24^th earthquakes in Venezuela.

Joining Dudamel and the LA Phil are Beck, Eduardo Betancourt, Jorge Glem, Meme del Real (Café Tacvba), Natalia Lafourcade, Lasso, Moisés Torrealba, Carlos Vives and Members of YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles.)

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

The other concerts in which Dudamel appears are:

Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl: Beethoven 9 on August 20^th. This concert features the world premiere of Hymns of the Heart by Michael Giacchino and Amanda Gorman.

Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl: Gustavo’s Fiesta on August 21^st.  This concert features Silvia Pérez Crus, Lila Downs, La Sonora Dinamita, Los Panchos, Los Tigres del Norte and Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles.

Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl: Foo Fighters with the LA Phil and YOLA on August 22^nd. Also performing are Eduardo Betancourt, Jorge Glem and Moisés Torrealba. Proceeds from this concert benefit the LA Phil.

If you’re interested in the three other concerts celebrating Dudamel, click on the name above.

That’s all for Best Bets: August 17th – August 23rd.

Enjoy your week!

Go see a show!

Main Photo: The cast of Freak the Mighty (Photo by Bronwen Houck-Courtesy Seattle Rep)