LA Phil Brings a Festive December to Walt Disney Concert Hall

Stephen Sloane

The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs among a busy lineup at Downtown’s Disney Concert Hall, with 29 concerts/musical events during December’s 31 days. The LA Phil is conducted by their regular conductor and musical director Gustavo Dudamel for “Pictures at an Exhibition” on four consecutive nights, starting Dec. 4. Each concert contains music by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky as well as the Phil’s own Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen. On Dec.11 – 14, the Phil will be conducted by James Gaffigan for “Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody,” a concert containing “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Suite from On The Waterfront, and Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 3: Symphony No. 3.”

Simon Trpčeski will be on piano. Then on Dec. 19 – 21 Trevor Pinnock will conduct the Phil for “All Mozart,” with each concert containing (among others) “Overture to La clemenza di Tito,” “Piano Concerto No. 9,”Ch’io mi scordi di te?” and “Symphony No. 39 in E-flat.” Miah Persson will be the soprano and Beatrice Rana will be on piano. Each of these concerts is offered at $20 per ticket.

Two-time Grammy award and record-breaking six-time Tony award winner Audra McDonald, the last time for her portraying Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” will perform on Dec. 2 with her focus being show tunes as well as compositions by various renowned contemporary music theater composers. Then on Dec. 7, the Los Angeles Master Chorale offers an audience sing-along to Handel’s “Messiah.” Music director Grant Gershon will conduct, and all audience members are encouraged to bring both good voice, and their own score. The Masters Chorale is then back for “Festival of Carols” on Dec. 13, “Rejoice! A Capella Christmas” on Dec. 14, and “Handel: Messiah” (non sing-along) on Dec. 17 and 21.

Those with cravings for Big Band need not feel left out. The “Arturo Sandoval Big Band Christmas” will be in good form on Dec. 23 with the ten-time Grammy nominee Sandoval leading his band for a Latin-flavored jazz evening. The San Francisco-based 12-man classical ensemble Chanticleer will put in an innings on Dec. 18 with the popular “A Chanticleer Christmas,” offering a Capella sound that covers many Christmas favorites. From its conception in 1978, the group has had over 100 male singers, and has recorded eight Christmas albums.

Finally, on Dec.31, all are welcome to bring in the new year with two concerts by group Pink Martini, who offer flavors of Cuban dance, Parisian cafe, and Brazilian samba. Music group The Von Trapps are special guests for both concerts.

For the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s December schedule, click here.