LA Chamber Orch's Baroque Conversations Spotlights Works For Harpsichord And Flute

By: Mar. 08, 2018
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LA Chamber Orch's Baroque Conversations Spotlights Works For Harpsichord And Flute

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's Baroque Conversations series explores "Nighttime in Four Great Cities" led by Principal Keyboard Patricia Mabee on harpsichord on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The program includes Vivaldi's Concerto, "The Storm at Sea," the first of his six flute concertos, which features LACO Principal Flute Joachim Becerra Thomsen; Sarabande from Trios for the King's Bed Chamber by Lully, who was in service to Louis XIV of France; Biber's Ciacona, "Night Watchman" from Serenade for Five; and Boccherini's evocative string quartet Night Music of the Streets of Madrid. A complimentary wine reception for ticket holders begins at 6 pm.

Mabee has served as principal keyboard with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1976 and performed under the batons of Jeffrey Kahane, Sir Neville Marriner, Christopher Hogwood, Helmuth Rilling, Nicholas McGegan and Iona Brown. In addition, she performs with Bach's Circle, which focuses on the music of JS Bach, his sons and contemporaries, and is the music director of Ritornello, a period instrument ensemble that presents educational programs for schools, museums and community groups. Mabee has also been featured on piano for world premieres by John Adams, Bruce Broughton, Donald Crockett and Libby Larsen, among others.

Thomsen, a native of Denmark praised for his "golden sound" and "heartfelt musicianship," began his LACO tenure in 2017 at age 21, becoming the youngest musician ever appointed to a LACO principal chair. He previously held the principal flute position with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Helsinki, Finland, and has performed throughout Denmark as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborating with such highly regarded Baroque specialists as Aureliusz Golinski, Jakob Lorentzen and Bolette Roed. Additionally, he has appeared with the Odense Symphony Orchestra the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, the Danish National Chamber Orchestra, The Royal Danish Orchestra, the Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony Orchestra and Malmö Symphony Orchestra, for which he won the audition for co-principal flute. Thomsen has garnered such prestigious Danish accolades as the Sonning Talent Prize; the Jacob Gade Honorary Award and Talent Prize; and the Rødovre Music Award.

The enlightening five-concert Baroque Conversations series provides insight into the genesis of orchestral repertoire from early Baroque schools through the pre-classical period. Generously sponsored by Carol & Warner Henry, a Friend of LACO and the Ronus Foundation, Baroque Conversations concludes on April 26, 2018.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), ranked among the world's top musical ensembles, marks its 50th anniversary in the 2017-18 season. Beloved by audiences and praised by critics, the Orchestra is known as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks as well as a champion of contemporary composers. Headquartered in the heart of the country's cultural capital, LACO has been proclaimed "America's finest chamber orchestra" (Public Radio International), "LA's most unintimidating chamber music experience" (Los Angeles magazine), "resplendent" (Los Angeles Times), and "one of the world's great chamber orchestras" (KUSC Classical FM). LACO, which performs throughout greater Los Angeles, has garnered eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. Jaime Martín, praised as "a visionary conductor, discerning and meticulous" (Platea Magazine), is LACO's Music Director Designate and takes the podium as Music Director in the 2019-20 season.

Tickets, starting at $45, are available online at laco.org, or by calling LACO at 213 622 7001. Single tickets can also be purchased at the venue box office on the night of the concert, if tickets remain. Discounted tickets are available by phone for groups of 12 or more. College students with valid student ID may purchase tickets for $8, subject to availability.

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Miller



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