Classical Pick of the Week: Gustavo Dudamel, Yo Yo Ma and Yuja Wang at the Hollywood Bowl

It's the most action-packed (well, for an extremely slow summer) week yet! Shockingly, there are still tickets available for Dudamel with Yo Yo Ma this Tuesday. Yo Yo Ma is performing the Schumann Cello Concerto, one of the most romantic Romantic concerti in the cello repertoire. It's paired with Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony (better than fireworks!).

On Thursday, Yuja Wang (she of the short [at least for Classical music critics] dress "scandal". You won't be paying attention too much to her attire while she's on stage, since she's performing THE Tchaikovsky. Once again, paired with the 4th Symphony (Tchaikovsky). Dudamel is also conducting this performance and you can't go wrong with either date, unless you think Tchaikovsky is overwrought or "too mainstream" (and at that point you probably shouldn't be going to any shows at the Bowl then...).

On Sunday, Dudamel conducts Verdi's Rigoletto and contemplate on the fickleness of women. This performance will be broadcasted on KUSC on September 8th. Yo Yo Ma's and Yuja Wang's performances will be broadcast on September 1st.

Who says you need to go to the Hollywood Bowl for a fine outdoor concert? If you're south of the county border, the Pacific Symphony is also performing that day in a program called "Beethoven's Greatest Hits!" Gabriela Martinez joins them for the "Emperor" Piano Concerto, with Carl St. Clair conducting both the Fifth Piano Concerto and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. This show takes place at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, and you can get tickets here.

Also, there's a FREE concert this Sunday at OCPAC for the Chorale Festival with the Pacific Chorale (you can get tickets here).