Daniel Catán: A Reflection on the Life and Work of the Late Musical Master

By Ted AYALA Daniel Catán, whose outstanding career as a composer for the operatic stage was crowned with the triumphant performances of his L.A. Opera commission “Il Postino” last year, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 62 last Sunday night according to his agent Peggy Monastra. At the time of his death, Catán was […]

Talking with Hayk Hambartsum, Director of “Confessing with Music”

By Ted AYALA Tonight, Thursday, April 7, the Brand Library (1601 W. Mountain St.) will be a screening the American premiere of a documentary film that explores the life of feted composer Tigran Mansurian. Mansurian (born 1939) has long been lauded in Central Europe and his native Armenia, though his work is still not as […]

Vio-fonik Found at Glendale’s 1st Baptist

By Ted AYALA Ensconced just a minute’s walk away from Downtown Glendale is one of the city’s best kept musical secrets. The 1st Baptist Church of Glendale (209 N. Louise St.) plays host to the Glendale Noon Concerts, a free series of noon-time musical concerts that are free to the public. Every first and third […]

A Tea Party Celebration for Media City Ballet

By Mary O’KEEFE Media City Ballet is celebrating its 10th anniversary season with “A Crazy Spring Mad Hatter Party” on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Media City Dance Centre, 237 E. Palm Ave. in Burbank. The fundraiser/celebration will feature music and Media City Ballet dancers roaming among the crowd dressed as special characters. “The […]

‘Hop’ into Theaters for this Family Movie

By Charly SHELTON Its Easter time again, and that means candy, chicks, colored eggs, and, of course, Bunnies. Russel Brand lends his voice to E.B., the next in a long line of proud Easter Bunnies who make the holiday happen every year, in backyards all over the world. Except China. Something about a talking bunny […]

Pasadena Symphony Orchestra Announces 2011-2012 Season

By Ted AYALA The Pasadena Symphony Orchestra (PSO), which has provided many memorable concerts in the past season and has admirably retained its superior quality despite a recent squabble with their former music director, announced their schedule for the 2011-2012 season. Among the notable musicians in this upcoming PSO season are violinist James Ehnes, cellist […]

LA Phil Pays Tribute to the Life of the Late Ernest Fleischmann

By Ted AYALA Next week, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (LAPO) will pay tribute to a man who fundamentally reshaped the orchestra and cemented its reputation as among the world’s very finest orchestral ensembles: their late executive vice president and managing director Ernest Fleischmann. Originally from Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany, the young Fleischmann and his family […]

Videogames on the Rebound

By Charly SHELTON So you wanted a game for Christmas, but you didn’t get it.  Now is the time to strike, my friends, to get the hottest games at low, low prices from used game sellers like GameStop.  The hottest games of the holidays, and before, and even new games are bought at full price, […]

A Happy Ending for One Bad Wolf in ‘Red Riding Hood’

By Susan JAMES “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke takes another shape-shifting tale out for a spin in her new film, “Red Riding Hood.” The movie owes a large debt to Tim Burton’s 1999 classic “Sleepy Hollow,” all moody scenery, frightened villagers and scary supernatural beast.  What it lacks is the star power of a Johnny Depp […]