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ICONIC FOOD CRITIC JONATHAN GOLD,
VERSATILE CHEF/RESTAURATEUR SUSAN FENIGER AND
LEADING CULINARY AUTHORITY MICHAEL RUHLMAN
JOIN LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (LACO)
TO EXPLORE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MUSIC AND CULINARY ARTS
IN ORCHESTRA’S INNOVATIVE “WESTSIDE CONNECTIONS” SERIES

LACO Sets Table for Foodies and Classical Music Lovers
As Concertmaster/Curator Margaret Batjer Serves Up Three-Concert Series
at Santa Monica’s The Broad Stage

Michael Ruhlman and Music of Rossini, Puccini, Falla and Schoenfield
Thursday March 1, 2012, 7:30 pm

Jonathan Gold and
Music of Bach, Bernstein, William Bolcom, Timothy Andres and Dohnányi
Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7:30 pm

Susan Feniger and Music of Saint-Saëns, Martinů and Ravel
Thursday, April 5, 2012, 7:30 pm

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) steps outside the proverbial music “box” to dish up a feast for foodies and classical music lovers alike at its innovative “Westside Connections” chamber music series with a menu that pairs LACO’s virtuosic musicians with iconic food writer JONATHAN GOLD, multi-talented chef/restaurateur SUSAN FENIGER and leading culinary writer, chef and food philosopher MICHAEL RUHLMAN for an always tantalizing and frequently amusing exploration of the relationship between music and culinary arts at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage. Showcased on the menu for the three-concert Thursday-night series, curated by LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer, are the virtuoso talent of LACO’s musicians and conversations with Gold, Feniger and Ruhlman, who discuss the food-themed music as well as the talent, techniques and artistic expression involved in gastronomy. Each evening includes an opportunity for audience questions.

“Good food and good music are a natural pairing,” says Batjer. “LACO is delighted to present these stellar culinary celebrities as we explore in these whimsical and informative programs the many ways music influences and enriches society and our lives.”

“Westside Connections” begins Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:30 p.m., with noted culinary authority Michael Ruhlman (Soul of a Chef, Ruhlman’s Twenty) and music of Rossini, Puccini, Falla and Paul Schoenfield. On Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7:30 p.m, iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold joins a program with music by Bach, Bernstein, William Bolcom, Timothy Andres and Dohnányi. “Westside Connections’” final “course” on Thursday, April 5, 2012, 7:30 pm, features celebrated chef, cookbook author and restaurateur Susan Feniger (Border Grill restaurants, Border Grill Truck and Susan Feniger’s STREET) and the music of Saint-Saëns, Martinů and Ravel. Now in its 4th season, the “Westside Connections” series has previously explored the effects of music on the mind, poetry and the creative process.

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:30 pm
Michael Ruhlman, special guest

ROSSINI String Sonata No. 1 in G major
PUCCINI Crisantemi (“Chrysanthemums”)
FALLA Suite Populaire Espagnole (arr. for Violin and Piano from “Popular
Spanish Songs” by Kochanski)
PAUL SCHOENFIELD Café Music

“Westside Connections” launches on Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:30 pm, moderated by leading culinary authority and food writer Michael Ruhlman. The program tempts with a variety of musical tastes and textures: Spanish spice from Falla, a confectionary delight from Rossini and Puccini’s dark-hued elegy featuring two melodies the composer later incorporated into his opera Manon Lescaut. Concluding the evening is Schoenfield’s Café Music, inspired by the contemporary composer’s one-time employment as house pianist at a steakhouse. According to music writer John Windh, the work is “a tongue-in-cheek musical goulash with a little of everything thrown in…kneejerk surprises, witty musical jokes, burlesque, sly twists, some Charles Ives, counterpoint, dazzling string writing, Gershwin, Broadway melody, Gypsy scales and bouncy rhythms…at times languid and sentimental, other times madcap.” Ruhlman, whose recently released book Ruhlman’s Twenty: The Ideas and Techniques that Will Make You a Better Cook was praised by the Los Angeles Times as “masterful,” has authored the popular culinary Chef series The Making of a Chef, The Soul of a Chef, and The Reach of a Chef. More recent books include The Elements of Cooking, a handy food glossary, and Ratio. He has also co-authored with top US chefs cookbooks such as The French Laundry, Bouchon and Ad Hoc with Thomas Keller, A Return to Cooking with Eric Ripert, Charcuterie with Brian Polcyn, and Symon Says: Live to Cook with Michael Symon. Ruhlman has appeared on Travel Channel’s popular show No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain and PBS’ Cooking Under Fire, and has also served as a judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef.

Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7:30 pm
Jonathan Gold, special guest
Elissa Johnston, soprano

BACH “Ich esse mit Freuden” (“I eat with joy”), from Cantata No. 84
BERNSTEIN La Bonne Cuisine – Four Recipes for Voice and Piano
WILLIAM BOLCOM Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise
TIMOTHY ANDRES Sorbet
DOHNÁNYI Sextet in C major for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Clarinet and Horn, Op. 37

Iconic LA Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold, the first to win a Pulitzer Prize in food criticism, joins LACO’s second “Westside Connections” evening, which also features soprano Elissa Johnston, on Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7:30 pm. The artfully designed musical feast spotlights Bernstein’s La Bonne Cuisine, which includes recipes for Plum Pudding and Oxtail from Madame Saint-Ange’s famous 1927 cookbook, complete with the composer’s instruction in the fine art of preparing French delicacies, and Bolcom’s hilarious Surprise, with some rather unique ingredients. Timothy Andres’ Sorbet cleanses the palate before the main course: the virtuosic Sextet written by Dohnányi in the tradition of Brahms and showcasing the unusual instrumentation of piano, violin, viola, cello, clarinet and horn. Gold’s signature reviews of ethnic restaurants throughout Southland neighborhoods, as well as his coverage of all types of cuisine in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles magazine and Gourmet, among many other high-profile publications, have earned him widespread acclaim and a vast following. A collection of his articles is featured in his book, Counter Intelligence: Where to Eat in the Real Los Angeles. The program also features LACO music director Jeffrey Kahane on piano.

Thursday, April 5, 2012, 7:30 pm,
Susan Feniger, special guest

SAINT-SAËNS Fantaisie for Violin and Harp, Op. 124
MARTINU La Revue de Cuisine, Jazz suite for Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Violin, Cello and Piano, H. 161
RAVEL String Quartet in F major

“Westside Connections” concludes Thursday, April 5, 2012, 7:30 pm, with special guest Susan Feniger, who adds her unique stamp to a program featuring Saint-Saëns’ 1907 Fantasie, a delicious aperitif to Martinů’s 1927 La Revue de Cuisine, which portrays a witty pop, Charleston and ragtime-cum-tango farce about cooking utensils, pots and lids. The entrée is Ravel’s 1903 masterpiece, String Quartet in F major. Feniger’s passion for food and genuine love for the authentic flavors of street and home cooking have propelled her wildly successful career as chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and radio/TV personality. She is co-chef/owner of the Border Grill restaurants and Border Grill Truck (with business partner, chef Mary Sue Milliken), owner of Susan Feniger’s STREET and veteran of Food Network’s Too Hot Tamales. Feniger has also co-authored five cookbooks including City Cuisine, Mesa Mexicana and Cooking with Too Hot Tamales. After a recent stint on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, she was a featured chef at the US Open and cooked for the Real Housewives of Orange County.

Westside Connections is supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation. These concerts are also sponsored by the Faucett Family Foundation, Ann Moore Mulally, A Friend of LACO and K. Eugene Shutler.

“Westside Connections” tickets ($45 per concert or $120 for a 3-concert subscription) are on sale now and may be purchased online at laco.org, by calling LACO at 213 622 7001 x 1, or at the venue box office on the night of the concert, if tickets remain. Discounted tickets are also available by phone for groups of 12 or more. The Broad Stage is located at 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90401.

Join us as we collaborate with the Boulder Symphony on their firt ever chamber music series.
Featured works include Libra, Scorpio and Saggitarius from Tierkreis by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Henryk Gorecki’s Little Fantasia and Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint.
First Presbyterian Church
1820 15th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
303.402.6400
Tickets: http://bouldersymphony.org/tickets

Come meet Morten Lauridsen in person as we collaborate on an evening of his music with the Evans Choir. FREE
Featured works include Cuatro Cansiones, Canticle and Be Still My Soul.
Hamilton Recital Hall, Newman Center for the Performing Arts
2344 E. Iliff Ave.,
Denver, CO 80208
Tickets FREE. Ticket prices include free parking in Newman Center parking garage and a reception after the concert to greet the artists.
Lamont Concert line (303) 871-6412

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) trips the light fantastic at the season’s second “Baroque Conversations” concert, which explores the art of Baroque dance, its links to the court of Louis XIV and its intriguing social and political implications, on Thursday, February 16, 7 pm, at Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. LACO Principal Keyboard Patricia Mabee, who celebrates 35 years with LACO this season, hosts the evening, featuring renowned baroque guitar John Schneiderman and Baroque dancers/historians Linda Tomko and Jill Chardoff. Also featured are LACO principals Tereza Stanislav, assistant concertmaster; Sarah Thornblade, associate principal violin II; Roland Kato, principal viola; Victoria Miskolczy, associate principal viola; and Armen Ksajikian, associate principal cello. In signature LACO style, the artists share their insights into the music and dances from the stage and invite questions from the audience about the program, which includes Vivaldi’s Trio Sonata in D minor, RV 63, Op. 1, No. 12, “La folia” (“Madness”); Sanz’s Pavanas and Canarios from Instrucción de Musica Sobre la Guitarra Española; Ganspeck’s Overture in A major for Viola d’Amore and Violin; Soler’s Fandango in D minor, S. 146; and selections from Campra’s Les fêtes vénitiennes (“The Venetian Festivals”) and L’Europe galante (“Galant Europe”), as well as from Lully’s Atys and Rameau’s Dardanus. A pre-concert reception, beginning at 6 pm, is free to all ticket holders.

LACO’s “Baroque Conversations” series explores the genesis of orchestral repertoire from early Baroque schools through the pre-classical period.

Tickets ($50) are on sale now and may be purchased online at laco.org, by calling LACO at 213 622 7001, or at the venue box office on the night of the concert, if tickets remain. Student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, may be purchased at the box office the day of the concert.

The February 26 Le Salon de Musiques’ program, in the Fifth Floor Banquet room at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, will feature Poulenc Flute Sonata With Piano and Arnold Bax Elegiac Trio for Flute, Harp And Viola and Faure Piano Quartet N.1 In C Minor Opus 15 with Steven Vanhauwaert on Piano, Marcia Dickstein on Harp, Pamela Vliek on Flute, Tereza Stanislav on Violin, Victoria Miskolczy on Viola and John Walz on Cello. The performance is accompanied by Champagne, food by Patina and informal conversation introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson. Tickets are $65 and $45 for students (including concert and refreshments) and are available on line at www.LeSalondeMusiques.com or by calling (310) 498-0257.

By removing the stage, Le Salon de Musiques offers a more personal touch to listeners eager to familiarize themselves with Chamber Music. The goal is to bring together an audience of disparate backgrounds…music lovers who believe that this form of melodic artistry brings out the best in humanity.

We celebrate the life of this influential and beloved Polish composer.
Featured works include Little Fantasia, String Quartet No. 2, Sonata for Piano Op. 6 and Quartettino.
Hamilton Recital Hall, Newman Center for the Performing Arts
2344 E. Iliff Ave.,
Denver, CO 80208
Tickets $18 adults, $16 seniors and free with Pioneer card or ANY student ID.
Ticket prices include free parking in Newman Center parking garage and a reception after the concert to greet the artists.
Lamont Concert line (303) 871-6412

BEYOND MUSIC: ART JARVINEN BIRTHDAY CONCERT

27 January, Friday – 9:00 PM

BEYOND BAROQUE LITERARY/ ARTS CENTER – Venice California

Composer Arthur Jarvinen (1956-2010)

ART JARVINEN (January 27, 1956 – October 2, 2010): “composer, musician, author, excellent cook…” can be read about on his homepage, www.arthurjarvinen.com. While he was known by many throughout the world, he was, to the LA music community, a dear friend whose departure we mourn and birthday we celebrate! Please join us to hear the FORMALIST QUARTET perform Art’s extraordinarily beautiful 100 Cadences with Four Melodies, a chorale, and a coda (with bells on!) and Conspiracy of Crows for three oboes, performed by KATHY PISARO.

Special Admission $5 Members, $5 Students/Seniors, $10 General.

http://www.beyondbaroque.org/events.html

Find an article about the music on this concert here.

Hear the latest works by Lamont’s best and brightest. FREE
Hamilton Recital Hall, Newman Center for the Performing Arts
2344 E. Iliff Ave
Denver, CO 80208
Tickets $18 adults, $16 seniors and free with Pioneer card or ANY student ID.
Ticket prices include free parking in Newman Center parking garage and a reception after the concert to greet the artists
Lamont Concert line (303) 871-6412

The January 22 Le Salon de Musique program will feature “A La Cour De Versailles“ Baroque Program with a pantomime for two dancers (Linda Tomko And Jill Chadroff) with a Baroque ensemble performing Marie-Antoinette, Rameau, Duphly, Gluck, Grety, Lully and Ferrere featuring Mezzo-Soprano Monika Bruckner, Susan Feldman on Violin, Leif Thomas on Viola da Gamba and Patricia Mabee on Harpsichord. The performance is accompanied by Champagne, food by Patina and informal conversation introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson. Tickets are $65 and $45 for students (including concert and refreshments) and are available on line at www.LeSalondeMusiques.com or by calling (310) 498-0257.

This program presents a concert of the type that Marie-Antoinette would have witnessed at her own salon de musiques in the 1780s.

By removing the stage, Le Salon de Musiques offers a more personal touch to listeners eager to familiarize themselves with Chamber Music. The goal is to bring together an audience of disparate backgrounds…music lovers who believe that this form of melodic artistry brings out the best in humanity.

Where:
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion – Fifth Floor
135 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets:
$65.00
$45.00 Students
There is a 10% discount if tickets are purchased for three or more concerts

Contact:
www.lesalondemusiques.com or (310) 498-0257

Le Salon de Musiques’ December 11 concert will feature Mozart Violin Sonata KV 304 In E Minor and C. Franck Violin Sonata with Phillip Levy on Violin and Francois Chouchan on Piano. All concerts are held from 4 – 6 pm one Sunday of every month beginning October 16, 2011 through May 20, 2012. The performance is accompanied by Cava (Spanish sparkling wine,) food by Patina and informal conversation introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson. Spanish Consul General Enrique Ruiz Molero Scheduled is scheduled to attend this performance. By removing the stage, Le Salon de Musiques offers a more personal touch to listeners eager to familiarize themselves with Chamber Music. The goal is to bring together an audience of disparate backgrounds…music lovers who believe that this form of melodic artistry brings out the best in humanity.

Tickets are $65 and $45 for students (including concert and refreshments) and are available on line at www.LeSalondeMusiques.com or by calling (310) 498-0257.