Home Alone

Went to the Pacific Symphony's Pops series concert last Saturday night.

Richard Kaufman conducted the music of Home Alone, composed by John Williams.  The CSU Fullerton University singers were also there.  Also in the pit, tubist Jim Self himself!  He played the tuba in the original movie.  This is as authentic as you can get!

It was interesting to watch the conducting.  There was a little screen behind the music stand, that showed the movie and also the measure and beat of the piece.  When the orchestra was not playing, I guess Richard gets to enjoy the movie!  :)

So it has been a long time since I first and last saw this movie.  Must have been at least 20 years ago!  :)

All I could remember was that he fought the burglars somehow, and the part with the tarantula.  I couldn't remember any of the details, like how Kevin got left home alone in the first place, or the thing about his next door neighbor!

Kern Plays Rachmaninoff

Went to the Pacific Symphony's concert Saturday night.  This is the first one in the 2016-2017 night series.

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

This performance will broadcast on Classical KUSC on February 5, 2017.

This season celebrates the 10 year anniversery of the Renee and Henry Segerstrom concert hall.  If you have never heard a concert hear before, this is an awesome hall.

Music director Carl St. Clair conducted with pianist Olga Kern.

Antonin Dvořák:  Carnival Overture, Op. 92

Sergei Rachmaninoff:  Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

Conrad Tao:  I got a wiggle that I just can’t shake (world premiere)

Ottorino Respighi:  Pines of Rome, P. 141

We're used to seeing Conrad on stage sitting at the piano, but this time he composed the first work on the second half.  He was here for the rehearsal, but couldn't be present due to an east coast Rach 3 concert.  Who said the virtuoso composers are getting extinct?  :)

KUSC's new playlist

KUSC's playlist got a new look!  :)

I like the accordion style, you can collapse the shows that are not currently playing.

Looks like they still need to work on the past lists though...

Tchaikovsky Spectacular

We went to the final concert of the Pacific Symphony's summer series last week.  It was indeed spectacular!  :)

This is also the final concert in the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre.  The property will be developed for residential use.

Music director Carl St.Clair conducted with violist Paul Huang, pianist Natasha Paremski, and the Huntington Beach Concert Band.

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Selections from Swan Lake, Op. 20
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35, TH 59

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker, Op. 71
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 23, TH 55
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49, TH 49

Two ballets, two concertos, and the 1812?  What a deal!  :)

As always, we had fireworks and real canons on site.

The fireworks.

The canons.

There was even a PokeStop!  :)

I will sure miss the concerts here.  I hope the venue from next year will be close by (at least in Orange County).

Raiders of the Lost Ark

We went to the movies Saturday night.  Not at the movie theater, but at the Pacific Symphony concert!  :)

Can you believe this movie is 35 years old now!?

Guest conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos led the Pacific Symphony.  I think Richard Kaufman conducted these movie concerts in the past, but I guess not this year.

Concertmaster Raymond Kobler was not on the members list!  I knew about Bob and Russell, but this was a bolt from the blue...

André Watts Plays Beethoven

KUSC is broadcasting the twelfth and final concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Music director Carl St.Clair conducted with pianist André Watts.

Ludwig van Beethoven:  Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58

Hector Berlioz:  Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14

We went to the open rehearsal, Saturday concert, and Sunday concerts!  :)

Vivaldi's Four Seasons

KUSC is broadcasting the eleventh concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Music director Carl St.Clair conducted with violinist Philippe Quint, who also lead the Vivaldi.

Antonio Vivaldi:  The Four Seasons, Op. 8

Richard Strauss:  An Alpine Symphony, TrV 233, Op. 64

We went to the Saturday concert.  Too bad there's no video on the radio!