The KUSC Blog

Mr. Villaraigosa, Tear Down This Wall!!!

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:14:49 +0000

On November 7th, KUSC Associate Producer Katie McMurran and I visited the Wende Museum’s Wall Project, an anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin wall. Festivities were scheduled to begin at 8pm and were initially pretty small but would soon grow. My anticipation of food trucks/currywurst/music or even leftover Oktoberfest beer went unsubstantiated, although the crowd was authentically German. There was even a man prancing around in full GDR Stasi gear, riding boots and all.

Although the wall seemed solid from its better angle, it was actually a wooden construction, with only a small Styrofoam soft spot engineered to “fall” at midnight. During the hours leading up to the event, workers tirelessly added to the construction at little improvised workstations. It might have gone unnoticed, but the majority of the crowd obviously stood on the painted side - a peculiar reflection of the scene around the original wall twenty years ago.

The crowd started to grow as it got closer to midnight. Around eleven, Executive Director/Founder of the Wende Museum, Justinian Jampol gave an energetic speech augmented by a few words from LA City Councilmember, Tom LaBonge. Also a highlight was the prerecorded message from Berlin’s mayor, Klaus Wowereit.

Artists lined up for a little photo-op while Ute Lemper, the German chanteuse and actress, sang a jazzy overlay.

A lot of visitors seemed to be interested in watching the event through a screen. Probably to update blogs… the irony of this is not lost on me. In any event, the Germans kept to the back where arguably more interesting conversations were taking place, leaving the news crews to fight their way to the front.

A peal of thunder rang over the heads of the crowd and fires raged. Just kidding, the bricks were styrofoam; the smoke was likely some kind of particulate released into the air or from a smoke machine to deepen the effect.

KUSC associate producer, Katie McMurran, stands in front of the largest intact portion of the original Berlin Wall. The artwork, however, is significantly younger than twenty years. LA and Berlin artists collaborated to redecorate the piece.

~ Cameron Carlson

The Composers’ Halloween Ball

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:00:38 +0000

by Alan Chapman

‘Twas All Hallow’s Eve
And all through the hall
Composers were throwing
A Halloween ball.

In the corner, an orchestra
Doing its job
With Mussorgsky’s Bald Mountain
And Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre.

Along the far wall
Was a monstrous buffet.
Rossini, it seems,
Had been cooking all day.

Granados brought specialties
Of his own casa
And Chopin showed up
With a load of kielbasa.

Tartini was serving
His tuna tartare
And Padre Martini
Was tending the bar.

And there in the light
Of a flickering candle
Was Johannes Brahms
All dressed up as Handel.

Hummel did Mozart
Exceedingly well
And Debussy passed himself
Off as Ravel.

Sibelius, not known
As a jovial fella,
Was decked out in feathers
As the swan of Tuonela.

And Wagner, that joker,
Was not to be missed.
With his stringy white wig
He declared, “Look! I’m Liszt!”

Verdi as Violetta
Was having a blast,
While Puccini as Musetta
Came fluttering past.

At midnight ‘twas Schoenberg
Who struck the twelve tones
Upon a marimba
Of skeleton bones.

And what happened next
Could not have been finer.
Bach played his Toccata,
The one in D minor.

And though the Toccata’s
Not really a song,
Schubert decided
That he’d sing along.

Which wasn’t so scary,
The crowd would agree.
Until Ives chimed in –
In a different key.

Along about one
The police got a call
And came to break up
This riotous brawl.

And despite the prodigious
Amounts they all drank,
Mussorgsky alone
Spent the night in the tank.

How KUSC Eats

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:15:31 +0000

We take classical music very seriously here at KUSC. But there is another topic we take equally as seriously: food.
Not only do the membership drives allow us to raise the funds that keep the station strong, they also give us a chance to break bread (or cupcakes) with each other and the many amazing volunteers that give of their time and talent to help make our membership drives a success.

Apple or Sprinkles cupcake? Alan Chapman is faced with this not-so-tough decision.

Alan Chapman and Kimberlea Daggy take a break from pitching just long enough to devour some of the decadent treats generously provided by Sprinkles Cupcakes.

Down in the volunteer room, new volunteer Jessica feasts on enchiladas donated by Rosa Mexicano Restaurant.

~ Kelsey McConnell

Viktor Hartmann’s design for the Great Gate of Kiev

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:01:17 +0000

Inspiration for the movement in Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

~Alan Chapman

The Inaugural Concert - An Insider’s Outside Perspective

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:48:29 +0000

It’s not every day that I bring a blanket, Ugg boots, mittens, and stadium chairs to work with me, but yesterday I did, because I was one of the lucky recipients of a ticket to the Music Center Celebrates Dudamel—an outdoor simulcast of the The Inaugural Concert: Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in front of the Dorothy Chandler.

As 5:00 came, I could see Brian Lauritzen and Gail Eichenthal in their offices, hunched over their computers, prepping for KUSC’s live broadcast of the LA Phil’s Opening night. With my supplies in tow, I headed toward Disney Hall. The closer I got, the fancier the dress of those around me became, until I was standing across the street from the venue. And what had previously been Grand Ave between 2nd and 1st Streets was now the technicolor patio of a Venezuelan nightclub, or so I assumed, having never been to Venezuela.

I popped into the Disney Hall store, where a pair of older women were receiving counsel from an employee on Dudamel recordings. “That one is just a compilation,” said the employee, “THIS… this is the CD that you want.” The women reached for the CD to which the employee was pointing, faces consumed with wonder. The cashier told another set of customers that he heard there would be tightrope walkers at the post-party.

At the entrance to Disney Hall, I passed a hot pink carpet, across which gorgeous gowns and well tailored suits passed on their way into the event.

Across the street and up the music center stairs, there was a gathering of a more casual, but no less excited nature. If there is one thing I have learned over my ten years in Los Angeles, it is that Angelenos know how to enjoy an outdoor event. Spread over the music center plaza were lovely collections of blankets, cushions and pillows, upon which my fellow ticket holders were chatting and enjoying picnics. I settled into an open spot and spread my blanket as the group next to me lit lanterns. It was as diverse a group as I have ever seen at a LA Phil event and when Dudamel strode onto the plaza’s big screen, he got a round of applause befitting Dudamania. Then he lifted his baton and I settled back into my chair, ready to hear the sound of my city from what felt like the very middle of it.

~Kelsey McConnell

Even More From ¡Bienvenido Gustavo!

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:44:33 +0000

We couldn’t get enough of the first round of backstage photos from our recent Live Hollywood Bowl Broadcast, so here’s round two!

Thanks to Erin Kyle for the stellar photography!

Technical Director Ted Ancona looks on as Gustavo “The Dude” Dudamel joins Dennis Bartel and Brian Lauritzen for a post-Beethoven 9th chat.

Los Angeles Philharmonic President & CEO Deborah Borda and KUSC Program Director Gail Eichenthal talk specifics with co-host Brian Lauritzen.

Call them ‘60-Minutes’ men: The cameraman from the CBS stalwart News Program looks on as co-hosts Brian Lauritzen and Dennis Bartel don’t miss a beat.

Filled with Pasión, Gustavo energetically relates an anecdote to the audience.

After the impromptu visit to the temporary KUSC studio at the Hollywood Bowl, Dudamel bids adieu, or rather bids adios.

The Phil Musicians look on as Gail Eichenthal is ready at the drop of a pin to spring into action.

With the evening at a close, Dennis Bartel and Brian Lauritzen take their place center stage of the Hollywood Bowl.

If you missed the broadcast, KUSC is happy to announce a special re-airing of the entire ¡Bienvenido Gustavo! program this Sunday, October 11th at 4pm.

Pics from Bienvenido Gustavo

brian — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:05:50 +0000

Here are a few shots from this evening’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl of Gustavo Dudamel’s first performance as LA Philharmonic Music Director.

A Nickname for Haydn’s Symphony No. 99?

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:03:26 +0000

Number 99 is one of the London symphonies that escaped getting a nickname (like the “Surprise,” “Clock,” etc.) I invited KUSC listeners to suggest a name and several ideas rolled in immediately.

Dylan Kellogg proposed the “Traveling Symphony.”

Frank Markovich was thinking along similar lines with the “Trip Symphony.” In its four movements he heard: Travel, Arrival, Destination, and Departure.

Carolyn Davies came up with “The Mockingbird” because of “its overall playful nature and especially the repetition of the flute in the second movement.”

Marian Bailey heard it similarly: I suggest nicknaming Haydn’s 99th symphony the ‘Bluebird’ symphony, because the flute in the second movement sounds the way a bluebird ought to sound.

Gene Manners thought it might be called the “Wind Choir” symphony.

And Katie Waitman had this perspective: Maybe it’s because I need to do some, but I kept thinking about bustling about the house while listening to this symphony, scrubbing the floor, vacuuming, so how about “The Housekeeping Symphony.” And she adds: Couldn’t be any sillier than some of the ‘official’ nicknames for the other symphonies!

~ Alan Chapman

Picasso’s Four Musicians

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:27:26 +0000

While in New York I paid a visit to the Museum of Modern Art and augmented Picasso’s ensemble.

Santa Fe Opera Tour- Au Revoir

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:13:45 +0000

It’s hard to believe that today was the final day of Classical KUSC’s Santa Fe Opera tour. We had a flexible schedule this morning. Quite a few people took in the museums in town, especially the Georgia O’Keeffe museum. It was incredibly satisfying to see her abundant artwork after visiting her homes in Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu.

We began our evening at Santa Fe Opera early, as Peter arranged a private backstage tour for us. We saw the prop room, the massive storage area for the sets as well as the shop where the sets are constructed. The highlight of the tour was a talk given by Costume Shop Manager David Burke. He explained how costumes are designed and the myriad steps involved in getting the costumes built, fitted and ready for performance.

We then adjourned to…the parking lot for a tailgate dinner. This was not your ordinary tailgate party. Tables covered with white cloths and colorful flower arrangements were just steps away from the opera house. We had a lovely meal with a spectacular view of the mountains. Minnie Prince, Classical KUSC’s Director of Major Gifts, handed out opera CDs and an Ipod to two lucky winners of the final day’s raffle.

The tour concluded with what many believed to be the finest performance of the week - Verdi’s La Traviata, starring Natalie Dessay. She was riveting, both as a singer and an actress. This was not “stand around and sing” opera. She, along with the rest of the cast (Saimir Pirgu as Alfredo; Laurent Nauori - Dessay’s husband in real life - as Germont) realistically responded to one another, and the audience responded in return. As soon as the last note drifted away, everyone in the house lept to their feet and showered a thunderous standing ovation upon the performers.

We couldn’t have asked for a better five days together. The music, the excursions, the meals, the camraderie - no one wanted the experience to end. To a person, the question was asked again and again - when is the next tour? We hope it will be very soon!