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L.A. Philharmonic Season Opener: Dudamel, Bronfman and Caneiro

Benjamin Dunn |
October 6, 2013 | 12:41 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter/Photographer

Gustavo Dudamel led the Philharmonic on a spectacular opening performance for the 2013/2014 season (Mathew Imaging).
Gustavo Dudamel led the Philharmonic on a spectacular opening performance for the 2013/2014 season (Mathew Imaging).
As the last notes of Yefim Bronfman’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 rang out at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, the entire audience jumped to its feet and began a five-minute standing ovation. 

Under the baton of Musical Director Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 10th Anniversary Celebration included Tchaikovsky’s popular first Piano Concerto, Schubert’s Fourth Symphony and the world debut of “Shing Kham” by Peter Lieberson. 

The night opened up with the crash of tympani in Lieberson’s new work, with Pedro Caneiro as the percussion soloist. Due to the unique sonorities and techniques the piece required, Caneiro worked with instrument makers Majestic and Missom to create a custom marimba with a damper pedal. 

“Shing Kham” actually means “Pure Land,” and is based off of an extremely complicated topic in Tibetan Buddhism, according to his widow, Rinchen Lhamo. Some interpret this idea as the concept of heaven while others believe it is an enlightened society with many sensory pleasures. 

Caneiro was more than a performer during the piece. He was also an entertainer. He was constantly on the balls of his feet and bouncing around to each instrument throughout the piece. Even during rests, Caneiro was moving around, bobbing his head and tapping his hands with the beat.

Spencer McClure, a former percussionist, described his playing as “highly personalized” and “un-traditional.” 

Lieberson’s explosive work was followed by Schubert’s Fourth Symphony commonly called the "Tragic". Schubert wrote the piece when he was just nineteen years old and only premiered two decades after his death. The Fourth is in the key of C minor and shares many characteristics with Beethoven’s tragic-heroic C minor works. 

After a brief intermission, the night continued with Yefim Bronfman, one of the most acclaimed classical pianists in the world, as the soloist for Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. USC students were given a unique perspective of the performance since they were situated behind the stage. They were able to see Bronfman's display of control, energy and passion as it resonated all around the hall.

After the performance, McClure said it was "cool to watch Dudamel conduct and see Bronfman’s hands when he played piano.”

He described Bronfman as “the best pianist [he’s] ever seen live.” 

After his performance, cheers of “bravo” could be heard throughout the audience. It was a truly remarkable performance. 

To check out the season's performance calendar click here.

Reach Staff Reporter/Photographer Benjamin Dunn here.



 

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