Benjamin Britten, one of Britain’s greatest-ever composers, celebrates the 100th centenary of his birth this year and to celebrate leading local conductor James Conlon will be leading a series of performances across Southern California as part of the Britten 100/LA celebration.
Over the course of two weeks (from November 22 through December 6), Conlon will lead five Britten performances in Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Monica. According to Mr. Conlon, “Several years ago, I realized that by taking advantage of the centenary of Britten’s birth I could motivate many people to try a sustained diet of his music.”
Throughout his career Mr. Conlon has focused on educating the public, including children, students in public and private schools, at conservatories and universities about the works of important composers. He has done this through collaborations with singers, musicians, teachers, professors, directors, and community institutions.
Mr. Conlon returns to Los Angeles after leading a revival of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Metropolitan Opera. The New York Times said, “Just a revival, yes, but an exciting one. Superbly cast and beautifully conducted by James Conlon, this Midsummer makes a persuasive case for a work both exquisite and exhausting…[Mr. Conlon] gave the score clarity and weight.”
Mr. Conlon is spearheading Britten 100/LA: A Celebration, a yearlong festival taking place throughout Southern California featuring performances, conferences, and exhibitions centered on Britten and his legacy (www.LAOpera.com/Britten100LA). The festival will conclude in the spring with LA Opera’s presentation of Billy Budd, staged by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Mr. Conlon.
On Friday, November 22, Britten’s birthday, Mr. Conlon will conduct an afternoon Britten Birthday Bash presenting the composer’s Friday Afternoons, Ceremony of Carols and Simple Symphony performed by students from the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica. The program will begin with the Elementary Honor Choir singing Friday Afternoons. The Middle School Trebles will sing choruses from Ceremony of Carols, and the Santa Monica High School Chamber Orchestra will conclude the concert with Britten’s Simple Symphony. Mr. Conlon, following in Britten’s footsteps, is bringing emphasis to music written for young people by the English composer. The concert coincides with Aldeburgh Music’s international singing project, Friday Afternoons, where on November 22, children throughout England will be singing the same Britten’s songs.
Mr. Conlon will conduct another centenary celebration that evening at St. James’ in the City Church. He will lead the Choir of St. James and the UCLA Camarades String Ensemble in performances of Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb (Op. 30, 1943), Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings (Op. 31, 1943) and Cantata Misericordium (Op. 69, 1963). The performance features soloists Joseph Kaiser, tenor, Philip Addis, baritone, and Steve Becknell, horn.
On Sunday, November 24, Mr. Conlon will conduct Britten’s War Requiem at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. On Monday, November 25, as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Sounds About Town series, Mr. Conlon will conduct War Requiem at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
One of music’s greatest anti-war statements, Britten’s masterpiece poignantly combines the moving First World War poetry of Wilfred Owen with the Catholic Mass for the Dead. The performances will feature soprano Tamara Wilson, tenor Joseph Kaiser and baritone Phillip Addis. The performance also features the full 95-piece Colburn Orchestra, and includes members of the USC Thornton Symphony, the USC Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, the Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir from CSU-Long Beach, CSU-Fullerton Singers, Chapman University Singers, New Zealand Youth Choir and Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. War Requiem performances are produced by The Colburn School.
On Friday, December 6, Mr. Conlon will lead members of the USC Thornton Symphony and Opera, and a cast of professional singers, in a performance of the church parable The Prodigal Son at First Congregational Church, Los Angeles.
CALENDAR LISTINGS
Friday, November 22, at 2:00pm The Britten Birthday Bash: Jonathan Beach Club. 850 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica, CA 90403. The event is free but reservations are required. For information, contact kimberleadaggy@gmail.com
Friday November 22, 8:30pm Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, at the Church of St James’ In the City. This event is free. Advance tickets are required (maximum of 4 per order). Tickets available at: http://conlonbrittenstjames.eventbrite.com St. James’ Church is located at 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.
Sunday, November 24, at 8:15 pm Britten’s War Requiem, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, in Costa Mesa and Monday, Novemer 25th at 8pm at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. To purchase tickets to either event, click HERE
Friday, December 6, 8:00pm The Prodigal Son, First Congregational Church, Los Angeles. Tickets: Free, but reservations required. Please visit: theprodigalson.eventbrite.com Doors open at 7:30pm for general admission seating. First Congregational Church is located at 540 South Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles.
Additional information
For more information about Britten 100/LA: A Celebration, including a complete schedule of events, please visit www.LAOpera.com/Britten100LA.
For more information about James Conlon, please visit www.JamesConlon.com.
