Summer Concerts 2010: Classical and World Music

Sundays

Sundays Live at LACMA: Weekly one-hour classical chamber music concerts and recitals by soloists and ensembles. This series has been running since 1948. Bing Theater, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Free. https://www.sundayslive.org

May 29, June 8, 18

LA Opera: “Das Rheingold” James Conlon conducts the opera in Wagner’s drama. The production is directed and designed by Achim Freyer, and is the first opera of the Ring cycle. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 each night. $20-$250. (213) 972-7219. www.laopera.com.

May 30, June 10, 20

LA Opera: “Die Walküre” James Conlon conducts the cast in Wagner’s opera as part of the Ring cycle. Starring Plácido Domingo, Michelle DeYoung and Linda Watson, and directed by Achim Freyer. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. May 30, 6 p.m.; June 10, 6 p.m.; June 20, noon. $50-$275. (213) 972-7219. https://www.laopera.com

June 3-5

Pacific Symphony: Leila Josefowicz Carl St. Clair conducts John Adams’ Violin Concerto, Ravel’s Suite from “Mother Goose,” Mozart’s Symphony No. 32, and Stravinsky’s Suite from “Firebird.” Featuring superstar violinist Leila Josefowicz, who made her debut at age 17 at Carnegie Hall. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 each night. $25-$105. (714) 755-5799. https://www.pacificsymphony.org

June 3, 13, 23

LA Opera: “Siegfried” Presenting Richard Wagner’s operatic fairy tale designed and directed by artist Achim Freyer as part of the Ring cycle. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 North Grand Ave., L.A. June 3, 6 p.m.; June 13, 12 p.m.; June 23, 6 p.m. $20-$260. (213) 972-7219. https://www.laopera.com

June 6, 16, 26

LA Opera: “Gotterdammerung” James Conlon conducts the final chapter of Wagner’s music drama as part of the Ring cycle, starring Linda Watson, John Treleaven and Eric Halfvarson. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. June 6, 5 p.m.; June 16, 6 p.m.; June 26, 5 p.m. $50-$275. (213) 972-7219. https://www.laopera.com

June 10, 13, 19, 22, 25, 30

San Francisco Opera: “Die Walküre” Donald Runnicles conducts and Francesca Zambello directs the Richard Wagner opera. Starring Nina Stemme as “Brünnhilde,” Mark Delavan as “Wotan,” Eva-Maria Westbroek as “Sieglinde” and Christopher Ventris as “Siegmund.” San Francisco Opera, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102. (415) 864-3330. https://www.sfopera.com

June 15

Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra: The singer, composer, musician, activist and member of rock band the Police performs with the British symphony orchestra. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. $30-$210. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

June 19

Pasadena Symphony and Pops Fireworks Spectacular Rachael Worby conducts the Pops Symphony in a program that includes Bizet’s “Carmen,” Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” as well as “Bohemian Masquerades,” “Saber Dances” and “Toreadors.” Also featuring the performers of Cirque de la Symphonie with an acrobatic and theatrical program set to music. Lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Concert at 7:30 p.m., gates open at 5:30 for picnicking. $25-$90 (children and student discounts available). (626) 793-7172. https://www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org

June 19

Grand Performances: daKah Hip Hop Orchestra — Gangster Wagner: The L.A.-based musical collective performs sounds inspired from the source material of the Ring cycle, blended with an L.A. flavor. Double G (daKah’s co-founder, conductor and composer) explores the city’s brand of “warfare.” Part of the city’s Ring Festival. California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. https://www.grandperformances.org

June 26, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7, Aug. 29

California Philharmonic: Festival on the Green Victor Vener conducts the orchestra in a series of summer picnic concerts at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Concerts include “America the Beautiful” featuring a patriotic program and fireworks show (June 26); “Lloyd Webber Goes To Italy” featuring selections from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” “Evita,” “Tosca,” “Aida” and others (July 10); “ John Williams & The Rings” featuring music from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy (July 24); “Frank, Tony & The Maestro” featuring classical works as well as hits made popular by Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett (Aug. 7); and “Beethoven & Broadway” presenting music from “Les Miserables,” “The Music Man” and more (Aug. 21). Concerts start at 7:30 p.m., gates open at 5:30 for dining and live jazz. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 7:30 p.m. all shows. $20-$98. (626) 300-8200. https://www.calphil.org

July 8

Mazel Tov, Mis Amigos Skirball presents a listening party celebrating Latin-Jewish music featuring Yiddish mambos, “Fiddler on the Roof” charangas and more. In conjunction with the museum exhibition “Jews on Vinyl.” Skirball Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, L.A. 7:30 p.m. $10 ($8 members, $6 students). https://www.skirball.org

July 10, 11, 24, 25, Aug. 7, 8, 21, 22

Southwest Chamber Music: Summer Festival at the Huntington: The chamber ensemble presents four weekend programs of outdoor music. Bring your own picnic or order from the Huntington Tea Room and hear works by Abel, Britten, Musgrave, Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Schubert and Mozart at the majestic museum gardens. Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 91108. 7:30 p.m. each day. $28, $45. (626) 685-4455. https://www.swmusic.org

July 15

Los Angeles Philharmonic: Bell Plays Bruch Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos conducts the orchestra in Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy” and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Featuring violinist Joshua Bell. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. $8-$86. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

July 16, 17

Warner Bros. Presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony: George Daugherty conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a collection of Looney Tunes cartoons, including “What’s Opera, Doc?” and “The Rabbit of Seville,” “Tweet and Lovely” and “A Scent of The Matterhorn.” With Tom and Jerry, the Flintstones, the Jetsons, and Scooby-Doo on the big screen. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 8:30 both nights. $10-$110. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

July 17

Pacific Symphony and Cirque de la Symphonie Maxim Eshkenazy conducts the orchestra in works by a wide variety of composers, including Bizet, Khachaturian, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, with an acrobatic performance featuring aerial fliers, contortionists, dancers and jugglers, among others. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. 8 p.m. $89-$459. (714) 755-5799. https://www.pacificsymphony.org

July 23 and 24

Planet Earth Live: Los Angeles Philharmonic Composer George Fenton conducts the orchestra as it accompanies a screening of the BBC’s nature series, taking viewers on a journey through the earth’s environments. Big screens surround the Bowl for viewing. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. July 23, 8 p.m.; July 24, 8:30 p.m. $10-$110. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

July 23- Aug. 14

Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute Music@Menlo presents a collection of concerts featuring works by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Dvořák, Schoenberg, Copland, and Crumb. With multimedia symposia and programs exploring European history and music in our world. Multiple venues, Menlo Park. $10-$72. (650) 330-2030. https://www.musicatmenlo.org

Aug. 1, 3, 5

Los Angeles Philharmonic: Dudamel Conducts Gustavo Dudamel completes his first year as conductor of the L.A. Phil with performances at the Bowl, including conducting the orchestra in Enesco’s “Romanian Rhapsody No. 1,” Piazzolla’s “Adios Nonino,” Falla’s “Three Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2,” Bernstein’s “Divertimento” and Ravel’s “Bolero.” Dudamel also appears at the Bowl Aug. 1 conducting Bizet’s “Carmen” and Aug. 3 conducting in an American celebration of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and selections from Bernstein’s “On the Town” featuring Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 3, 8 p.m.; Aug. 5, 8 p.m. $8-$86. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

Aug. 1-15

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Marin Alsop conducts a diverse program of music featuring the sextet eighth blackbird, the Kronos Quartet and a number of major composers in residence. Multiple venues, Santa Cruz. (831) 426-6966. https://www.cabrillomusic.org

Aug. 6 and 8

Music Academy of the West: Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” George Manahan conducts and Chas Rader-Shieber directs the academy in Mozart’s 1787 opera, dramatizing the story of Don Juan. The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Aug. 6, 7 p.m.; Aug. 8, 2 p.m. $10-$120. (805) 969-8787. https://www.musicacademy.org

Aug. 6-27

La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest: The chamber music festival features more than 70 world-class artists and ensembles performing a variety of concerts. Emanuel Ax, Wu Man, and the Calder Quartet are among the artist highlights. Multiple venues, La Jolla. (858) 459-3728. https://www.ljms.org

Aug. 8

Los Angeles Jewish Symphony: Cinema Judaica Noreen Green conducts the orchestra in a tribute to Jewish film composers, featuring such music as “Masada,” the “Ten Commandments Suite” and many more. With guest Yuval Ron, world music artist and composer. Ford Amphitheater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, L.A. 7:30 p.m. $20-$36 (students and children $12). (323) 461-3673. https://www.fordtheatres.org

Aug. 20 and 21

Los Angeles Philharmonic: Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks Bramwell Tovey conducts the orchestra in an annual and Hollywood Bowl tradition filled with Russian compositions and pyrotechincs. Also featuring the USC Trojan Marching Band and violinist Baiba Skride. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. Aug. 20 and 21, 8:30 p.m. $10-$110. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

Aug. 21

Fiesta Argentina 2010: Tango, Cancion de Buenos Aires: Clarinetist Zinovy Goro and flutist Pablo Goldstein perform traditional tango mixes dating to the 1890s. Also featuring Mezzo Esther Segovia, tenor Osvaldo Roval, baritone Carlos Bossio and the Otero Dance Company in a celebration of Argentina’s urban dance tradition. Ford Amphitheater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, L.A. 8 p.m. $35-$45 (students and children, $12). (323) 461-3673. https://www.fordtheatres.org

Aug. 24

Sarah Chang Plays Shostakovich: Leonard Slatkin conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Hall of Famer, virtuoso violinist Sarah Chang in Shostakovich’s “Tahiti Trot,” Violin Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 5. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. Aug. 24, 8 p.m. $8-$86. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

Aug. 27-28

John Williams and the Music of the Movies: The Oscar-winning film composer (“E.T.”, “Jaws,” “ Indiana Jones,” “Star Wars”) conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in symphonic highlights from the Golden Age of Hollywood as well as some of his own hits in his annual presentation of Hollywood scores. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. Aug. 27 and 28, 8:30 p.m. $10-$110. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

Aug. 28

Classics on the Wild Side: Featuring Time for Three: Carl St.Clair conducts the string trio in Bernstein’s Overture to “Candide,” John Williams’ Overture from “The Cowboys,” Copland’s Suite from “Billy the Kid” and more in a cross-genre blending of bluegrass, jazz and classical sounds. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. 8 p.m. $89-$459. (714) 755-5799. https://www.pacificsymphony.org

Sept. 2

Los Angeles Philharmonic: Bernstein’s “Candide”: Bramwell Tovey conducts the orchestra in Bernstein’s operetta. Featuring Anna Christy as “Cunegonde” and Alek Shrader as “Candide.” Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 8:00 p.m. $8-$86. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

Sept. 12

7th Annual Celtic Concert Series: Vocalist-guitarist Ken O’Malley, a Dublin native and the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums kick off an evening of Irish celebration, featuring the Fureys and Davey Arthur. Ford Amphitheater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, L.A. 7 p.m. $24-$34 (children, $12). (323) 461-3673. https://www.fordtheatres.org

Sept. 26

17th Annual Brazilian Summer Festival: Brazilian Nites: The 23-member Afro-Brazilian percussion and dance ensemble Olodum from Salvador, Bahia performs “samba reggae,” combining Brazilian samba with Jamaican reggae, merengue and salsa. This year marks the band’s 30th anniversary. Ford Amphitheater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, L.A. 7 p.m. $45 (children, $12). (323) 461-3673. https://www.fordtheatres.org

Compiled by Sari Heifetz Stricke