Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is keeping the music in-house this season. The ensemble’s 2021–2022 schedule gets underway next month, and the programming is more varied than ever: 13 concerts, a mix of orchestra, chamber, and new music, at seven venues around L.A. But rather than relying on a slate of guest artists to make the season happen, LACO is tapping into its own talent, with the group’s musicians taking a leading role for these first regular performances back from the pandemic.
Of course, there are the exceptions. Conductor Roderick Cox makes his debut with the orchestra March 19–20, 2022, leading a program that has Randall Goosby soloing in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Another touted violinist, Nemanja Radulović, joins the ensemble April 23–24, 2022, for the Tchaikovsky Concerto.
But on the whole, LACO is sticking to its own players. Jaime Martín, now in his third year as music director, conducts every other orchestral concert this season. First up, a program Nov. 13 at UCLA’s Royce Hall that welcomes back former music director, now conductor laureate Jeffrey Kahane, who takes the solo part in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22.
LACO showcases more soloists from its ranks throughout the season. Four of the orchestra’s wind players are the stars of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, Jan. 29, 2022. Concertmaster Margaret Batjer and principal cellist Andrew Shulman share the stage for the Brahms Double Concerto, May 12–15, 2022. That last program also features a world-premiere piece from Ellen Reid, LACO’s creative advisor and composer-in-residence.
The ensemble’s artistic leadership gets creative with performances outside of the orchestral setting this season. Batjer curates six chamber concerts that will bring LACO members to some favorite smaller venues, from The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino to The Broad Stage in Santa Monica to Zipper Hall at the Colburn School. The series starts all-Baroque (Dec. 4) and ends up with another world premiere, this one from composer Samuel Adams (March 26, 2022).
And for more new music, LACO’s artistic advisor and artist-educator, Derrick Skye, programs a pair of contemporary concerts, with details to be announced.
Find the complete season schedule, along with tickets and the orchestra’s COVID safety protocols, on LACO’s website, or call (213) 622-7001 x1.
