As TVs around the world feed us Beverly Hills 90210 and Baywatch, it's easy to imagine the Los Angeles area as nothing but a place obsessed with breast enhancements, and peopled with tanned airheads. But really, the city is an art & music treasure trove, especially regarding vibrant contemporary creations. One of the reasons I wanted to experience LA was actually the presence of Esa-Pekka Salonen at the head of the LA Philharmonic - with bold energy, he has transformed "classical" music concerts. Sadly, Salonen will be leaving at the end of this season...(The LA Times pays tribute to him here)
A couple of days ago, I discovered Zipper Hall at the Colburn School of Music; the building is filled with art, and I especially loved the mobile pictured here: a whimsical and colorful creation, it is set up and lit so as to project a graphic shadow against a white wall. Isn't it great?
Los Angeles is also the city of Peter Sellars, the great opera stage director and one of the living person I would most love to meet; you can watch this genius, with Salonen, discussing Stravinsky, here.
Emily Dickinson
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30 comments:
we have lots of good in this city! some bad, for sure, but plenty of good stuff. :)
oh. and i have seen salonen many a time. he is a wonder and he'll be missed. but there is a lot of buzz on the new dude. we'll see about him!
DROLLGIRL - yes I heard that the new dude, (aka Gustavo Dudamel) is really great! I'm eager to hear him.
I love live music.
The LA scene is always portrayed as plastic plastic plastic! But I'm sure there's more to it than that :)
By the way, I've got a great giveaway over at my blog. Come over and check it out!
Congratulations, you scooped me again! So looking forward to the colorful Gustavo.
~Love the mobile. And it's shadow even more.~
It's a bit of a secret right now, but I'll be moving to LA in a few months! So excited to learn about this amazing, vibrant city. It gets a bad rap, but I'm super excited to explore!
The shadow of that mobile is stunning!
NESSA - yes, it's wonderful to share music with the performers and the audience, such a unique experience every single time.
ALYA - I'm glad I'm changing your perception of LA.
I'll check out that give away today!
SPANGLER - we should go to a concert together some time.
APRILINIOWA - yes, it's such an original idea, beautifully executed.
SARA - thanks for sharing this secret on AUREA! I hope we can meet when you move here. Keep me posted!
Hi Mary-Laure,
Lovely blog here! Thank you so much for visiting my blog! To answer your question about the Countess Castiglione, there are several books out there about her. If you go to this link, there are books about her listed at the bottom: http://www.squidoo.com/Countess
She was so fascinating!
Cheers,
Tara
I truly enjoyed seeing and listening to Peter Sellars and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
I attended the departure of Zubin Mehta and the debut of Esa-Pekka Salonen... who is up next? I have yet to visit the new Disney hall... used to go to the Dorothy Chandler for years... hmmm... maybe I need a trip to the music hall.
TARA - thanks for the info! I am eager to read more about her.
FIFI - who is up next? Gustavo Dudamel.
I didn't know you were a music lover! There's plenty to do in LA for music lovers.
My son lived in LA for several years- wish I had taken the time to learn more about that city. It was beautiful an full of life! So many opportunities.
I am inspired to see that you are discovering so many things in your new city. Also, thankful that you can indulge us with your elegant writing.
ehheeh
I like what you said, youreally think about LA in what we see in Tv shows like Dr 91210...I am that we also can find great things there!
Great post!
Nunca estarás aburrida en L.A. eh!
Aqui en Ibiza tampoco...
Un saludo.
gosh, i like the shadow better than the mobile. such a nice image..
KIRA - yes, I like changing people's perception of LA.
PIPER - si me imagino que en Ibiza tambien siempre deber haber cosas para hacer.
ASHERETTE - exactly, the shadow is the point of the mobile, isn't it wonderful!
ah, good to hear some other news on LA, indeed for me it seems all about plastic fantastic and looks, but I am happy that you give us a whole different view on things, how refreshing! :-)
Solange
This post is embarrassing for me... I actually work right across the street from the center you know but I've never gone inside for a concert. Just to explore and to eat and shop at the gift store. The old music centers and forums I know (though I haven't gone to an opera in almost 4 years). We should meet for lunch there one day maybe? Let me know... email me or call! :)
OMG! That mobile is cool, but THAT shadow is super!!!
I have to confess that I've always thought of LA as being very much like it is portrayed on TV. Glad to hear otherwise!
...silly television ;)
that picture is so surreal and inspiring!
http://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/
yes it is unfortunate that some images/view points etc get attached to places....and people cannot seem shake them...
but...marie-laure you are doing a fabulous job of showing us something new and different from the pre-conceived...merci
nancyxx
WOW thats amazing and such aninovative way to display art no?
Mary Laure, creo que uno a veces comete el error de juzgar una ciudad por el imaginario colectivo, pero en realidad hay mucho por descubrir y me encanta que nos cuentes esto de LA porque yo no la conozco y me encanto saber que existen otras cosas mas alla de lo que nos muestra la television. Gracias por estos datos!
GABBI - sometimes we ignore what's close and handy...
It would be great to meet for lunch one day! I'll email you.
NANCY - yes stereotypes are always hard to get rid of.
Thanks to you and Gabbi, LA has really become one of the places I'd most like to visit, it never was in the list of places to visit before I met you both lol
CUTE BLOG!!!!!!
:)
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