LA Phil “City of Light” Debussy: Pelleas et Melisande and Chamber Music from France 2/24/16

February 24, 2016

“City of Light” is the project Esa-Pekka Salonen, a conductor laureate of LA Phil, curated, and Debussy’s opera (oratorio style) and chamber music were a part of the project. First of all, we don’t hear “Pelleas et Melisande” often in the US, and especially with the great cast and orchestra, it was a “must” concert to listen. I am so happy that I went! When we have so many projects to accomplish, we forget to get out of a hectic life. Debussy’s music was so perfect for me. It is not pushy. It is colorful and the music floats around the words and the mood. The singers were excellent. From the beginning, this opera is not the kind of opera for direct expression. And without staging, it is up to the audience to imagine and create. It is a psychological drama. The performance was fantastic!

Chamber music from France was the perfect concert to end “city of Light” project, including Ravel: sonata for violin and cello, Saint-Saens: Septet Op. 65 and Ravel: Ma mere l’oye arranged by Roland Kato. The performance by LA Phil musicians was so polished and defined with the great characters! The special mention will be the very imaginative arrangement by Roland! He has a creative mind to follow Ravel’s colorful instrumentation in 5 instruments. Congratulations, Roland!