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Classical Pick of the Week: Happy 100th, John Cage!
Photo by juliewolfson306 via the LAist Featured Photos pool onFlickr
John Cage was born September 5th, 1912. The L.A. Times has some nice stories on his impact in LA, a storyboard on his time in LA, a diverse sample of compositions, his influence on other musicians (including Paul McCartney, Stereolab, and Sonic Youth), and his impacton the arts scene. There is also a listing of various events around the country planned for this year here.
If you're feeling extra festive or inspired this week, there is a FREE performance at Pomona College this Wednesdayat 7 PM. From September 4th through December 6th, you can also visit the Pomona College Museum of Art for an exhibit showing John Cage's artwork. For more information on the performance, click here.
Jacaranda Music is hosting a Cage festival, featuring four concerts in four days in four venues. There is a performance on Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica of several works by Cage (including the infamous 4' 33") and compositions by Cage's friends (Lou Harrison, Nancarrow, Tenney, Billings, and Belcher). Friday's performance at the Miles Playhouse in Reed Park runs an impressive 24 hours. This will require 32 pianists for Satie's Vexations, three bars of music played 840 times. Not only is admission FREE, but you are welcome to come and go as you please, and to bring your own cushions as well.
On Saturday, there is a presentation on John Cage's life and works, followed by a performance of the Perilous Night and the Ten Thousand Things. This concert takes place at the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club, at 8 PM. And last but not least, there is a FREE performance at the Annenberg Community Beach House next Sunday for a performance of Cage's Sonatas and Interludes. An RSVP is required, and you can get tickets here.
For Bowl lovers, you've got Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto on Tuesday (paired with the always exciting Shostakovich 10th Symphony), Igudesman and Joo on Thursday, and the always popular Tchaikovsky with Fireworks this Friday and Saturday.
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