A selection of 'California' articles
Ensemble. Undeniable Brilliance and Thrills - Ron Bierman listens to Brahms, Dvořák and Gity Razaz
Ensemble. Visits to the Doctor - Ron Bierman appreciates music by John Adams, Mozart and Rachmaninov from Ingrid Fliter, Edo de Waart and the San Diego Symphony
Profile. A Fascinating Background and Career - Ron Bierman pays tribute to the late Nicolas Reveles, in the second part of his interview with the composer
Ensemble. Total Immersion - Ron Bierman listens to Anne Akiko Meyers, Domingo Hindoyan and the San Diego Symphony
Classical music news - January Newsletter and December Obituaries - Our January 2023 PDF newsletter has just been published, along with a summary of those the classical music world lost in December 2022
Ensemble. Charm, Skill and Versatility - Ron Bierman listens to Isabel Leonard and Pablo Sáinz-Villegas in festive mood
Ensemble. On the Day of the Dead - Ron Bierman reports from San Diego on Gabriela Lena Frank's opera 'El último sueño de Frida y Diego'
Profile. Opera is a Whole New World - As rehearsals begin for her new opera, Gabriela Lena Frank talks to Ron Bierman
Classical music news - July 2022 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Classical music news - May 2022 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month
Profile. Suffering and Delight - Ron Bierman talks to conductor Rafael Payare
Classical music news. Music Competitions - Here are details of various music competitions taking place during the coming months
Profile. Behind the Words and Between the Lines - Ron Bierman talks to Canadian conductor Yves Abel
Profile. Serving the Larger Community - Ron Bierman talks to David Bennett, general director of the San Diego Opera Association
Beyond COVID-19 - Ron Bierman takes a look at the current classical music scene in San Diego
Ensemble. A Booming Success - Ron Bierman reports on the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, live at its upgraded outdoor concert hall
Ensemble. Figaro via Laugh-in - Ron Bierman reviews San Diego Opera's parking-lot production of Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville'
Ensemble. Horns and Headlights? - Ron Bierman reports on San Diego Opera's 'La bohème' from a parking lot in San Diego
Ensemble. A Nuanced, Idiomatic Portrayal - San Diego Opera's first drive-in opera - 'La bohème', appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Exquisitely Beautiful - Music for percussion by Chou Wen-chung, Chinary Ung, Lei Liang, Michael Pisaro and Edgard Varèse, heard by Ron Bierman
Classical music news. Darya Dadvar - The Iranian opera singer is to appear in Los Angeles on 8 March 2020
Ensemble. Blaringly Unusual - Maria Nockin listens to Pittance Chamber Music's opening concert
CD Spotlight. Quite Unusual - Orchestral storytelling by Jon Deak, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'The performances here are very good, the music colourful and inventive, and I can imagine that this disc may appeal more to people with children than to adult listeners.'
CD Spotlight. Sensitive and Meditative - Kamyar Mohajer's 'Pictures of the Hidden' engages Geoff Pearce. 'The performers here are superb.'
Ensemble. A Memorable Evening - Shostakovich's 'Leningrad' Symphony performed by two symphony orchestras in San Diego, and conducted by Valery Gergiev, heard by Ron Bierman
Ensemble. Tears Behind the Laughter - San Diego Opera's 'The Marriage of Figaro', reviewed by Ron Bierman
Profile. Magical Transformation - Ron Bierman talks to the American dramatic soprano Lise Lindstrom during rehearsals for Puccini's 'Turandot' at San Diego Opera
CD Spotlight. Very Satisfying - Chamber music by Gerard Schurmann impresses Geoff Pearce. 'This fine performance is taut, accurate and driven.'
CD Spotlight. A Beautiful Issue - Art songs by Franz Liszt, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Benjamin Brecher's sensitive performances are full of dramatic nuances and range of colour ...'
CD Spotlight. A Cracker of a Disc - Contemporary music from San José, heartily recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... lovely, approachable music ...'
CD Spotlight. Angelic Stuff - Paul Hillier conducts Arvo Pärt, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... performances of the most wondrous beauty.'
CD Spotlight. December Celebration - New American carols, heard by Keith Bramich. '... this collection of new works is interesting and different.'
CD Spotlight. Reshaping the Classics - David Rubinstein plays Gustav Holst, heard by Andrew Schartmann. '... impressive musicality ...'
CD Spotlight. Evoking Mood - Piano music by film composers, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... Cheng is clearly at ease ...'
CD Spotlight. Acknowledged Skill - Gwendolyn Mok plays Brahms, heard by Howard Smith. '... Mok falls short of Julius Katchen's flair ...'
CD Spotlight. Clearly Inescapable - Gerard Schurmann's chamber music impresses Howard Smith. '... potent, consuming, thematically cogent and burning with zeal.'
Ensemble. Final Production? - Ron Bierman was at San Diego Opera's 'Don Quixote'
Ensemble. A Good Night for Singing - Los Angeles Opera's 'Carmen', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Extremely Visual - Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele at San Francisco Opera, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Excellent Material - A look at Tobias Picker and Sandy McClatchy's fascinating new opera Dolores Claiborne, by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Wild and Powerful - Joshua Bell's Tchaikovsky in San Diego impresses Ron Bierman
Ensemble. Fatal Obsession - Wagner's 'Flying Dutchman' at Los Angeles Opera, experienced by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Sad Story - 'Madama Butterfly' at Los Angeles Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Virile and Robust - Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' at Los Angeles Opera, recommended by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Fascinating Show - Verdi's 'I Due Foscari' at Los Angeles Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Doubly Welcome - Music for violin and piano by Gerard Schurmann, recommended by Howard Smith. 'Excellent from start to finish.'
Ensemble. Blended Voices - La bohème at Los Angeles Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Wonderful Singing - Piotr Beczala's recital debut impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Farewell to Comedy - Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Romeo makes love to LA! - Barbier and Carré's version of Shakespeare, as set by Charles Gounod, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A fine performance - Tchaikovsky's 'Eugene Onegin' at Los Angeles Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
DVD Spotlight. Imaginatively Produced - Mesut Özgen plays contemporary guitar music, enjoyed by Patric Standford. '... an impressive performer who selects a distinctive repertoire ...'
Ensemble. Unique Harmonies - Shostakovich's 'Moscow, Cherry Town', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Surprisingly Believable - Britten's 'The Turn of the Screw' impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Happy Melodies - Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia' delights Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Excellent Performance - Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic at the Movies, seen and heard by Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Many Levels - Chamber music by Mozart and Smetana, heard by Howard Smith. '... judged to perfection ...'
Ensemble. A Marvelous Job - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Consummate Virtuosity - Bryn Terfel, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Hindemith and Wagner, appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Wonderful Surprise - Los Angeles Opera's 'Rigoletto', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. True Ear Candy - Wagner's 'Lohengrin' at L A Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Profile. Finding the Right Voice - Maria Nockin talks to American composer Daniel Catán
Ensemble. A Major Success - Ricky Ian Gordon's 'Orpheus & Euridice', experienced by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Seventh Heaven - Christine Brewer and Craig Rutenberg's recital in Los Angeles, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Thoroughly Impressed - Maria Nockin talks to baritone Alan Opie, who is about to sing Germont for San Diego Opera
CD Spotlight. Californian, Dreaming - 'The Floating Bubble' by Ron George, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... subtle long-range structures shaped with minimal scoring ...'
CD Spotlight. Exceptional Assurance - J S Bach organ sonatas, heard by Howard Smith. '... an immensely satisfying conclusion.'
Truly Hilarious - Jenny Setchell's book 'Organ-isms', recommended by Kelly Ferjutz
Ensemble. Unique Sonorities - Britten's Peter Grimes, heard by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Rare Treat - Verdi's 'Aida' from Prescott, reviewed by Susan Hampton
Ensemble. A Musical Gem - Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. A Skilful Balance - The Icicle Creek Piano Trio, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... rhythmically brisk, considered performances ...'
CD Spotlight. Eminently Agreeable - Piano music by Ahmet Adnan Saygun, recommended by Howard Smith. '... unfailing rhythmic clarity and beautifully controlled dynamics ...'
Hide and Seek - Finding Mozart in his image, by Thomas Larson
CD Spotlight. Spirited Playing - Piano music from Cuba, reviewed by Patric Standford. '... undoubted technical command ...'
Profile. To be a composer - Ron Bierman continues his feature about Benjamin Lees