Sam Kim

Yep. Someone is playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. AGAIN. But it's not some young prodigy fresh off of his/her win at the (insert prestigious competition here). Midori is performing the concerto with the Pacific Symphony this week. Here is a clip of Jascha Heifetz (considered to be one of the greatest musicians ever) performing the piece. In somewhat related news, Midori now holds the Jascha Heifetz Chair in Violin at USC. The Classical music...

You've probably heard Beethoven's Ode to Joy, a proclamation for mankind united under God. Hear the Berlioz Requiem in this week's classical pick for another take on that theme. This week's classical pick highlights music that is rarely performed in LA, if at all. The LA Opera begins the 2009/2010 season with Donizetti's bel canto (an elegant Italian vocal style) opera, The Elixir of Love.

Alexis Weissenberg (a favorite of LAist) and Herbert von Karajan perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 2, which can be heard in its entirety in this week's classical pick. There are only a few classical events this week as we head into September, and the classical pick this week takes places at the Hollywood Bowl. Concerns about air quality are warranted, but as for now, the shows are still on schedule.

This is an old recording by Feuermann performing the Dvorak Concerto. The greatest cellist performing the greatest piece (for the cello). The Hollywood Bowl is on twitter! Check out their feed for updates on concerts, insights on the artists that will be performing at the Bowl, and free tickets! Go to the Bowl this Tuesday for the conducting debut of Placido Domingo with Yo Yo Ma. Ma will be performing the Dvorak Cello Concerto,...

Bernstein is probably best known in popular culture today as the composer for music from West Side Story. College Humor updated the story for the 21st century, complete with references to twitter, facebook, and pandora. LA Phil guest conductor Bramwell Tovey conducts the LA Phil this Tuesday at 8 PM in a program of Bernstein and Barber. The program includes Bernstein's Overture to "Candide" and the piece "On the Waterfront". James Ehnes and Bramwell...

Gil Shaham is a world famous violinist who loves making an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl regularly. Here he is performing the Carmen Fantasy by Sarasate, not to be confused by the Carmen Fantasy by Waxman (which might be more difficult). He is accompanied by Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic. If you haven't been to the OC Fair yet, try going on Wednesday, July 29th! The Pacific Symphony, led by Richard Kaufman, will...

"To the Stars" in Dragonheart is one of the oft-used pieces of music in trailers and film today. Jump to 2:20 to hear the theme. This week's classical pick highlights concerts in LA that focus on movie music.Although Porgy and Bess is typically remembered as one of the most famous American operas of all time, it was also made into a film featuring Sidney Poitier and sammy Davis Jr. You can hear Gershwin's music...

Photo by Fire Monkey FIsh via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr LAist reported earlier that LA Phil violinist Robert Korda has been missing for three days now. His son Noah posted a few hours ago that "Verizon has cooperated...because we managed to get a court order". Once again, if anyone sees a Geo Metro with the license plate 3GPJ453, please call the LAPD Missing Persons Unit at (213) 485-5381 or (877) LAPD-24-7....

Music in film is one of the most important devices used in cinema today; this music has been ingrained in popular culture, to the point that most people could recognize the tunes. Also sprach Zarathustra, Ride of the Valkyries, Beethoven's 5th, are a few of the major works that come to mind. This week, you can hear a few of these tunes and more at several venues. At the Hollywood Bowl, Kirill Karabits and...

2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Haydn. Here is a clip of recently deceased Rostropovich performing the Haydn D Major Cello Concerto. The LACMA hosts the last (for the 2008-2009 season) of its FREE Sundays Live concerts next Sunday with a program of Haydn and Mendelssohn, to cap off the year with one last celebration of their anniversaries. Expect duets and piano trios, at 6 PM this Sunday the 28th. The...