Classical Pick of the Week: It Came from Outer Space

All this talk about Siri reminds us of good our friend Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey. You know what else does? Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra, which the Pacific Symphony is performing this Thursday Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. The program is full of fan favorites, with Strauss' Blue Danube waltz and Jeremy Denk joins the Pacific Symphony for Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 20 in C Major.
Tonight, soprano Karina Gauvin will illuminate (sorry) the stage with LACO for an exciting program filled with Britten (including les illuminations), Dvorak, and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Concert starts at 7 PM at Royce Hall.
For something a little closer to home, cellist Johannes Moser returns to the Disney Hall this Thursday and Friday at 8 PM for a world premiere performance of Mexican composer Enrico Chapela's new Concerto for Electric Cello (yes they do exist). Also on the program are Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine and Prokofiev's 5th Symphony for the more conservative crowd.