Classical Pick of the Week: Primitive Force

There's a lot of quality going on in classical this week in Los Angeles. Deaf percussionist superstar Evelyn Glennie is coming to UCLA Live, the Steven Stucky 20th Anniversary at the Green Umbrella Series with the LA Phil and a crazy four hour concert tonight featuring 18 Squared, LA's resident Steve Reich ensemble, among others.

However, the obvious choice for this week is Monday Evening Concert's season opener, Primitive Force (we spoke about Sunday Morning Films yesterday). MEC has been around since 1939. Up until 2006 it was at LACMA (LA County Museum of Art), but the museum foolishly and recklessly cut the entire series. A group of dedicated audience members who cared about the series formed a new non-profit to continue the concerts. There may not be 12 concerts a year anymore, but MEC is still presenting programs like none other in Los Angeles.

Most of the general public knows of Igor Stravinsky (and hey, he did live in Los Angeles at one point, even has a star on Hollywood Blvd.), yet when one says Radulescu or Xenakis, deadpan countenances are sure to come. Not to fear though, these contemporaries can write like it's the rock music of the new classical genre. And a percussionist favorite in Los Angeles, Steven Schick, will be playing the insanely complex Rebonds by Xenakis. Listen to the below audio for interviews and samples of tomorrow night's concert (plus the rest of their season).

Primitive Force @ Monday Evening Concerts
December 3rd, 2007 - 8:00 p.m.
Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School (across from Walt Disney Concert Hall)

Also this week... (after the jump)

• The Alternative Opera Theater, last week's pick, has one more show tonight.
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra plays Mozart and Brahms.
• Tonight, Sundays Live goes Beethoven style.
• Same goes for the Pasadena Symphony.
• A flute themed concert at the Santa Monica Symphony.
• Celebrate a classical Christmas with the LA Master Chorale
• An incredibly special living room concert in a Mt. Washington home, complete with wine, hors d'oeuvres and city views.
• And last but not least, the best concert series to hit a local church. Jacaranda brings adventurous new chamber music to the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica.

Photo of Vincent Royer, viola, and Horatiu Radulescu, composer, provided by MEC