Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) returns to Classical California’s airwaves with a three-week broadcast series as part of the radio network’s long-standing SoCal Sundays program, featuring recordings of three concerts from LACO’s Orchestral Series at the Alex Theatre and UCLA’s Royce Hall, all conducted by LACO Music Director Jaime Martín during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. Hosted by Classical California’s Brisa Siegal, the two-hour broadcasts showcasing LACO’s exceptional artistry will air on three consecutive Sundays, March 10, 17, and 24, 2024, at 7 pm. Classical California is an umbrella brand that includes radio stations KUSC and KDFC.
LACO’s broadcasts launch on March 10 with a recording of the final concert from LACO’s 2022/23 season, a program entitled Shankar Plays Shankar. It includes the LACO debut of internationally renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar performing Concerto No. 3 for Sitar composed by her legendary father, the late Ravi Shankar. Also featured is the world premiere of HaZ'màn HaZèh (translation: "this present time") by 2022-23 LACO Sound Investment composer Marc Lowenstein, whose music is infused with a searching sense of narrative and mysticism. LACO Sound Investment is a groundbreaking program the Orchestra established in 2001 that engages audience members in developing new classical works. The concert also features Bizet’s Symphony No. 1 in C major.
On March 17, the Classical California broadcast features a recording of LACO’s 2023/24 concert Dimensions: Hadelich + Mendelssohn. Highlights include the West Coast premiere of Dai Wei’s poignant Invisible Portals, a co-commission by LACO and the American Composer’s Orchestra. The Chinese-born composer, who filters musical traditions through her unique experimental lens, is also featured on the work. Additionally, the program spotlights Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, and concludes with Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C major, “Jupiter.”
The broadcast series wraps on March 24 with a recording of LACO’s 2023-24 concert entitled Visions: Tetzlaff + Brahms, featuring acclaimed violinist Christian Tetzlaff performing Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major. It also includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major and the overture from Rossini’s comic opera The Italian Girl in Algiers.
The appearance of Anoushka Shankar was made possible, in part, with support from Shaheen + Anil Nanji. Shankar Plays Shankar was made possible, in part, from a generous contribution from Ray + Ann Lowe.
The featured performance of Augustin Hadelich was made possible, in part, with the generous support from Terri + Jerry Kohl. Hadelich + Mendelssohn was made possible, in part, with the generous support from Dr. Diane Henderson.
Visions: Tetzlaff + Brahms, was made possible, in part, with the generous support from Joan Wynn. Additional support was provided by Peggy + Jack Falcon and Ray + Ann Lowe. The featured performance of Christian Tetzlaff was made possible, in part, with the generous support from Ruth Eliel + Bill Cooney and Terri + Jerry Kohl.
For information on the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra broadcast series on Classical California, please visit www.KUSC.org, or www.LACO.org.