Sam Kim

The LACO has been a major contributor to the music scene in Los Angeles for 40 years. You've probably heard their musicians in many movies, music recordings, and seen them (the mural of an orchestra on the 110? The LACO). How about seeing them live? LAist has covered them several times before, and this year is a good year to check them out for yourself. The LACO is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and bringing...

LAist will tackle some issues regarding dining, etiquette, tipping, etc. The information is compiled from etiquette classes, books, newspaper articles, and experience. Any and all questions can go in the comments section. If you ask someone to dinner, it is expected that you should make the reservations, choose the place, and pay for the meal. Any "dutch" paying arrangements are made before you get to the restaurant. Often times this rule is neglected when hanging...

Woody Allen (Vicky Cristy Barcelona, Manhattan, Annie Hall) and William Friedkin (the Exorcist, the French Connection) collaborate with the Los Angeles to bring you their vision of Giacomo Puccini's Il Trittico. Il Trittico is made up of three one-act operas, "Il Tabarro", "Suor Angelica", and "Gianni Schicchi". James Conlon conducts the orchestra and Tony-award winning Santo Loquasto will design the set. "Il Tabarro" is about a tragic love triangle, filled with dark and violent...

A preview of Mahler, conducted here by Simon Rattle at the BBC Proms Mahler's 8th Symphony is titled the Symphony of a Thousand because the premiere had over 800 vocalists on stage accompanying an orchestra of around 200. It's epic. It's the last appearance of Salonen as the Music Director, and due to the lack of opportunities to see the 8th symphony, this a program that should not be missed. There are eight soloists,...

Itzak Perlman performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, which will be performed at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend. Russia has the Tchaikovsky Competition, Poland the Chopin Competition, and Los Angeles gets the relatively new Jose Iturbi International Music Competition. The main drawing power of the new competition? A top prize of 50,000 dollars and it takes place every year (most of these competitions take place every 4-5 years and usually offer less money). Along with...

One wouldn't really expect to go to the LACMA to go see great classical music, but during the season every Sunday at 6 there is a free concert of some great mid-career musicians or student virtuosos, broadcasted on 88.5 KCSN. Today we have violinist Hahn-Bin and pianist John Blacklow performing the Mozart and Franck violin sonatas. Next week on Friday we have jazz singer/songwriter/pianist Bill Cantos takes the stage, and on Sunday we have cellist...

For some reason it's not letting me upload pictures, so here is a video! This week's classical pick is a pick of several jazz concerts. There are always shows at the standard locations like the Baked Potato and Catalina Jazz Club, and free jazz and wine at Hollywood and Highland on Tuesdays. Tonight at 7 PM in Pasadena you have a FREE performance from the Ernie Andrews Quartet at Levitt Pavilion. The Hollywood Bowl...

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is the brainchild of Joss Whedon, who has enlisted his friends Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillon, and Felicia Day to create a musical in which Dr. Horrible (Harris) blogs about his daily routine, reading fan letters, and of his attempts to join the Evil League of Evil. Captain Hammer (Fillon) is his nemesis and Felicia Day (a Buffy alum) is his love interest that he never talks to. Part 1...

This week didn't seem to be as hot as predicted, but this week's classical pick is packing some heat! Which is literally the case here, since they will have fireworks at the end of the show this Thursday at the Hollywood Bowl. The program has a distinctly Eastern flavor, with music from Russian and Chinese composers, with the world famous pianist Lang Lang and LA Phil's Assistant Principal cellist Ben Hong as the soloists. The...

Every Summer the number of outdoor concerts increase significantly. Why not? It's beautiful outside. In Marina Del Rey, they hold classical and popular concerts every Thursday and Saturday. This Thursday we have the opening ceremonies including two pre-concert events Trooping the Colors and a Water Show on the main channel. The highlight of this concert is USC professor Marek Szpakiewicz performing the Elgar Cello Concerto in E Minor. According to our all-powerful all-knowing editor, "you'll...