Disney Hall Weekend

On Saturday, Colleen and I met her local sisters and family at the Disney Hall for a Festival of Carols by the L.A. Master Chorale.  The venue was decorated with Poinsettia flowers and the 67 member Chorale were formally dressed.  They were led by conductor Grant Gershon and accompanied on some songs by Lisa Edwards and Shawn Kirchner on the piano and John West on the giant pipe organ.  Shawn arranged many of the songs.

My favorites were "One Sweet Little Baby" by Glenn McClure and arranged by Kirchner, "Glory, Glory, Glory to the Newborn King" by Moses Hogan with a solo by Caroline McKenzie, and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" arranged by Kirchner with Doug Masek on the saxophone.  The last one reminded me of my high school chorus days under the direction of our teacher, Ruth Rickards, who had to corral us wild teens.

We returned on Sunday to celebrate Zubin Mehta's 50th anniversary as the conductor of the L.A. Phil.  In 1962.  In November of that year, Mehta conducted his first program as Music Director of the L.A. Phil and that concert was repeated this weekend.  He remained in that position until 1978.

The program was Mozart's Overture to Don Giovanni, Hindemith's Symphony Mathis der Maler, and Dvorak's Symphony No. 7 in D minor.  The orchestra started small with the Mozart and grew.  The full orchestra performed the 40 minute Dvorak Symphony which included important parts by Ariana Ghetz, the oboe player, the horns, and of course all the strings.  In the middle there was a lively waltz to sway back and forth.

Thank you Zubin Mehta.  We last enjoyed his leadership in a 2004 Beethoven's 9th (Ode to Joy) will all the trimmings.  Twas a great weekend of music.  How great it is to be in L.A.!