Out West Arts: Performance at the end of the world

No, I'm not turning Out West Arts into a Prince and the Revolution tribute blog. (I've thought about it often, but today is not the day.) Instead it's just the birth of Out West Arts-version 6. That’s right, Southern California’s number one independent classical music, opera, and theater blog is five years old. (This actually happened towards the end of August, but makeovers take time my friends.) To mark the occasions I’ve got a new look. One of the things I’ve always prided myself on here is that I feel OWA doesn’t look like any other classical music blog, and certainly not look like a pre-fab one. I owe this primarily to my web designer and editor Jeffrey Langham who keeps this endeavor alive. Without him, I’m nothing.

And of course the same goes for all of you who continue to drop by and check out what I’ve got to say. This all started as a chance for me to share my thoughts and opinions on performing arts in Los Angeles and it's still my main mission, although OWA has grown into something much bigger given the vacuum left by the collapse of printed arts criticism in the U.S. It's still written entirely by me and is still ad free, though I'm not above talking about stuff I like and admire in the hopes you will too. I love hearing from everyone and still get excited over comments and emails, so feel free to drop me a line. I also continue to be indebted to the many bloggers and writers who have shown their support for this endeavor over the years. You know who you are and many of those names are in the Links section on the right.

As for what is new around here, you may notice a couple of changes. First, the Calendar section has been augmented with images in addition to the regular listing of upcoming performances in order to highlight those I particularly consider worth your time and notice. There is now also a new and improved Recommended section. This column contains recordings and performances that I am personally recommending based on having seen them myself and hoping that you'll enjoy them as well. So hopefully you’ll find OWA bigger and brighter than ever. And stay tuned because there is plenty more on its way.

Labels: Anniversary

Wolfgang Rihm and Ingo Metzmacher
Photo: Wolfgang Lienbacher/Salzburg Festival 2010

It’s time for a new look, don’t you think. Certainly the close of the fourth year of Out West Arts calls for a makeover. I’d like to give a big shout out to Jeff who, in addition to doing some editing here and there, is the force behind keeping this blog from looking like a pre-fab template. It’s been a great year here, and I’ve connected with some great people. I’ve kept a lot of things the same, but have added some new links including one to Anne Midgette’s blog for the Washington Post which I have shamefully neglected before now. (Thanks for the shout out this week, Anne!)

Patricia Petibon and Michael Volle
Photo: Monika Rittershaus/Salzburg Festival 2010

And to celebrate August and the OWA anniversary, I’m going to Salzburg! Included in the trip are all six of the staged operas the Salzburg Festival is putting on this year including four new productions: the world premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s Dionysus, Patricia Petibon starring in Berg’s Lulu, the Ricardo Muti-led Orfeo ed Euridice, and Strauss’ Elektra, featuring the powerhouse trio of Westbroek, Meler, and Theorin. There will also be two star-studded revivals: Claus Guth’s controversial vision of Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Christopher Maltman, Erwin Schrott, and Dorothea Röschmann among others and Bartlett Sher’s Roméo et Juliette with Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala. The young and very talented Yannick Nézet-Séguin will head both revivals. And if that isn’t enough for you right there, I’ll also catch a Lieder recital from Anja Harteros, and Bruckner and Rhim performances from the Vienna Philharmonic under Riccardo Chailly, and a chamber concert with András Schiff. Bookending the time in Salzburg are two layovers in London, which I’ll spend at the National Theater for performances of Rattigan’s After the Dance and the recently opened Michael Grandage-directed production of Büchner’s Danton’s Death.

René Pape as Orest in Strauss' Elektra
Photo: Hermann und Clärchen Baus/Salzburg Festival 2010

August will close out with a handful of late summer offerings when I return to L.A. including a Shostakovich program at the Hollywood Bowl featuring Sarah Chang under the direction of Leonard Slatkin on August 24. There are also appearances from the Chemical Brothers at the Bowl on the 29th and Rufus Wainwright will visit the Greek Theater on the 20th. And while I may try to squeeze in a few as yet to be determined theater events, I’ll definitely be seeing the world premiere of Moby Pomerance‘s The Good Book of Pedantry and Wonder at Boston Court in conjunction with Circle X Theater on the 22nd.

That’s my August and the start of the fifth year at OWA. I want to continue to thank everyone who has offered commentary and support to this space. I love to hear from people who’ve liked and disliked things I’ve had to say here so keep writing. I hope you continue to enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Labels: Anniversary, In the Wings