In the mood for a little night music? I am. Pacific Symphony’s “Beethoven and Benedetti,” which introduces two young rising stars to OC, fills the bill Feb. 2-4 at Segestrom Concert Hall. Violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti, age 24, “one of the youngest and most alluring [violinists] to emerge in the past decade” according to Limelight Magazine, will perform Bruch’s famed Violin Concerto No. 1. She’ll be followed by acclaimed conductor Christoph König leading the ensemble in Beethoven’s sublime Symphony No. 4, often overshadowed by his third and fifth symphonies; Debussy’s Petite Suite opens the concert.
“My own interpretation of any given piece is never consistent,” says Benedetti. “Each time I perform a work, something changes. What I like most about the Bruch concerto is its optimism and openness, with the exception of certain troubled moments in the first movement. The second movement is undoubtedly the heart of this concerto and is in my opinion the reason the concerto deserves the popularity it holds.”
Benedetti won the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2004, Her new album “Italia,” released last week, explores Baroque masterpieces from her Italian homeland. König is principal conductor of the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música in Portugal and the Solistes Européens in Luxembourg. Call 714-755-5799 for tix or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.
Young blood will be followed by European royalty when Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo arrives in OC from the Principality of Monaco, to perform “Cinderella” Feb. 9-12 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The company, led by director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, was reestablished in 1985 at the behest of Princess Caroline—fulfilling the dream of the late Princess Grace to revive a tradition begun by Serge Diaghilev in the early 20th century.
Lest you think you know precisely what you’ll be getting, keep in mind this isn’t Disney’s “Cinderella,” it’s a modern rendition created by Prokofiev. “Cinderella is not only a fairy tale character,” the composer stated, “but also a living being, who feels and lives, and whose fate moves us”. Maillot’s interpretation toys with the natural and the supernatural: “My job is to show you what you already know but to present it in a different point of view," says the choreographer of the ballet, which premiered in 1999 at the Monte-Carlo Opera House. Call 714-556-2787 for tix or visit www.scfta.org.
South Coast Plaza's Jewel Court offers a free exhibition Feb. 2-12, “Monaco: A Dream Come True,” highlighting the cultural and artistic legacy of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Princess Grace and the Principality of Monaco. Seven of SCP’s restaurants will join the celebration with a tribute to the cuisine of the principality.
More from Jordan:
Best of OC Theatre 2011
Mamet's 'Buffalo' loose in OC, 'Orson's Shadow' in Long Beach http://shar.es/fWAUp
Where to dine before the show in Costa Mesa—Leatherby’s
Where to dine before the show in Costa Mesa—Seasons 52
Follow me on twitter.
Visit my Amazon Author Page.
Like a heads up when I post a new article? Just click where it says "Subscribe to get instant updates" at the top. (Not getting the emails? Keep in mind I post about 2-3 times a week). You can also share this article with your facebook/twitter friends by clicking the appropriate buttons above.
Comments