L.A. Phil concerts with Dudamel, Salonen, others will air on KUSC

A new series of broadcasts featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic in concert will be heard on classical music station KUSC-FM (91.5) beginning this weekend.

The 14 programs are from the orchestra's 2011-12 season, and half are conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the L.A. Phil. Others feature guest conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Simon Rattle, James Conlon and John Adams.

Included in the lineup are three concerts from the Phil's ambitious Mahler Project, featuring the composer's Symphony No. 4, No. 9 and No. 8. The latter, set to close the KUSC series on July 1, was recorded in Caracas, Venezuela, and features not only the Phil but also the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and a huge chorus -- 1,400 performers in all. Times music critic Mark Swed attended that event Feb. 18 and called it a "grand performance."

"Los Angeles Philharmonic in Concert," airing Sundays at 4 p.m., will be hosted by KUSC's Brian Lauritzen. Like other KUSC programming, it will also be heard on KPSC-FM (88.5) in Palm Springs, KDSC-FM (91.1) in Thousand Oaks, KQSC-FM (88.7) in Santa Barbara, KESC-FM (99.7) in Morro Bay/San Luis Obispo and online.

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Photo: Gustavo Dudamel conducts the L.A. Philharmonic in Mahler's Ninth Symphony at Walt Disney Concert Hall in February. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

 

Conductor Jeffrey Kahane suffers minor injuries in crash

Jeffrey Kahane, music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1997, suffered minor injuries in a car accident in Santa Rosa on Monday night and has withdrawn from appearances with the Hawaii Symphony next week, his spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Details of the injuries were not disclosed.

The spokeswoman said that Kahane and his wife, Martha, who was with him at the time, would be fine.

He plans to lead the Chamber Orchestra as scheduled for local engagements on April 12, 19 and 21, she said.

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Photo: Jeffrey Kahane at his Santa Rosa home in 2011. Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

Kahane suffers injuries in crash

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From a Times Staff Writer

Jeffrey Kahane, music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1997, suffered minor injuries in a car accident in Santa Rosa on Monday night and has withdrawn from appearances with the Hawaii Symphony next week, his spokeswoman said Tuesday. Details of the injuries were not disclosed.

The spokeswoman said that Kahane and his wife, Martha, who was with him at the time, would be fine. He plans to lead the Chamber Orchestra as scheduled for local engagements on April 12, 19 and 21, she said.

Broadway star Sutton Foster is headed to TV

Television giveth and television taketh.

Just as NBC is putting a spotlight on Broadway by making it the setting for its new series "Smash," ABC Family is luring away one of theater's brightest musical stars, Sutton Foster.

The Tony Award winner for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and the current revival of "Anything Goes" will star in a series for the cable channel that starts filming this spring.

In "Bunheads" -- well, that's what they're calling it for now, anyway -- she'll play a Las Vegas showgirl who moves to her new husband's hometown and goes to work in her mother-in-law's dance school. The executive producer is Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of the late "Gilmore Girls."

The channel's audience "is going to fall in love with Sutton Foster the same way Broadway has," said Kate Juergens, ABC Family's executive vice president of original programming and development.

LACMA to stage fundraising gala for its film program

In an effort to call attention to its revamped film program, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art said Thursday it will stage an Art + Film Gala on Nov. 5 honoring filmmaker Clint Eastwood and artist John Baldessari.

Proceeds from the fundraising event will be used to “support LACMA's initiative to make film more central to the museum's curatorial programming,” the museum said, including the weekly cinema series it co-sponsors with Film Independent.

The gala, to be held at LACMA, will be co-chaired by LACMA Trustee Eva Chow and by Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars in Eastwood's latest film, “J. Edgar,” which will have its world premiere at AFI Fest in Hollywood on Nov. 3.

Noting that Los Angeles is "the hub of the film industry" and "one of the most important centers in the world for contemporary art," museum director Michael Govan called this "an opportune time to bring these two globally important creative communities together at LACMA, acknowledging motion pictures' increasingly significant place in the whole history of art."

Many in the film industry questioned whether Govan understood that "significant place" two years ago when he suspended the museum's long-running weekend screening program and dismissed its respected overseer, Ian Birnie. But Govan subsequently vowed his support and in April this year announced a partnership for a new series with Film Independent, the nonprofit organization that runs the Los Angeles Film Festival. Veteran film critic Elvis Mitchell was brought in to run it.

LACMA said in announcing the gala that the proceeds, beyond supporting that film series, would go toward "exhibitions, acquisitions and educational programming."

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-- Lee Margulies 

Left: Clint Eastwood in 2009; credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times. Right: Baldessari in his studio; credit: Kim Schoenstadt.

L.A. Opera takes to the radio airwaves with 'Il Postino' and five other productions

"L.A. Opera on Air" begins its fifth season on classical music station KUSC-FM (91.5) this weekend, showcasing six productions from the company's 2010-11 season. First up is "Il Postino" (The Postman), featuring L.A. Opera General Director Placido Domingo in the lead role of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

"L.A. Opera on Air" will air Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KUSC, with simultaneous streaming on www.kusc.org. All six operas were recorded during performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Duff Murphy will host the series.

Commissioned by L.A. Opera, "Il Postino" was adapted by Daniel Catan from a 1994 Italian film of the same name that was based on Antonio Skarmeta's novel about a fictional friendship between Neruda and a young mail carrier. It had its world premiere last September. Catan, a resident of South Pasadena, died April 8 at the age of 62.

During the broadcast, Andrea Puente Catan, the composer's widow, will participate in a live chat on KUSC's website, www.kusc.org, moderated by Christopher Koelsch, L.A. Opera's senior vice president and chief operating officer. The public is invited to join in the discussion and ask questions.

L.A. Opera is hosting a memorial for Catan on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It is open to the public.

Pianist David Benoit to host morning show at jazz station KKJZ-FM

Jazz pianist and composer David Benoit, who recently began hosting an afternoon show at classical radio station KMZT-AM (1260), likes the job so much that he's going to take over the morning shift on jazz outlet KKJZ-FM (88.1).

Beginning Monday, Benoit will host the 6-10 a.m. weekday program at KKJZ, better known to listeners as K-Jazz. He'll continue his 2-5 p.m. gig at KMZT. Both stations are operated by Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters.

In a statement released by KKJZ Wednesday, Benoit called it "a great thrill and privilege" to "take part in the presentation of this treasured music. I've been a local fan of this radio station for ages, and it's especially exciting to have this opportunity in my own backyard." He was born in Bakersfield but grew up in Southern California.

A five-time Grammy nominee, Benoit also serves as music director of the Asia America Symphony Orchestra.

He won't be KKJZ's only musician-deejay. Earlier this month, the station introduced a two-hour weekend program hosted by saxophonist Kenny G.

Current KKJZ morning host Bubba Jackson will move to the 6-10 p.m. shift, with syndicated host Bob Parlocha sliding to 10 p.m.-6 a.m. 

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Photo: David Benoit. Credit: www.benoit.com

 

David Benoit: All that jazz and more

Kenny G to host his own show at KKJZ-FM

Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G is adding a new job to his resume: radio host.

Starting Sunday, the musician will be heard for two hours each week on KKJZ-FM (88.1), better known to its fans as K-Jazz. The program will be called "C to C With Kenny G," which the station explained stands for "Classic to Contemporary," meaning he'll be playing music "ranging from Dave Brubeck and Wes Montgomery to Esperanza Spalding and Chris Botti."

"I love jazz and grew up listening to all the great masters of jazz as well as the more contemporary instrumentalists," the 54-year-old sax man said in a statement released by KKJZ. "My new program will draw from jazz-oriented music recorded throughout my lifetime."

Kenny G (real name Kenneth Gorelick) has sold more than 75 million records since the release of his first album in 1982. His hit CDs include "Duotones," "Breathless" and "Miracles."

"C to C" will air Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m.

-- Lee Margulies

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Photo from KennyG.com

 

L.A. Phil concert at Disney Hall to be broadcast on KUSC-FM

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn.'s tribute concert to its former leader Ernest Fleischmann will be broadcast live from Walt Disney Concert Hall Tuesday night by classical music station KUSC-FM (91.5). 

The concert, which begins at 8 p.m., features the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, with Esa-Pekka Salonen, Pierre Boulez and Lionel Bringuier sharing the conducting duties. Also performing will be tenors Daniel Chaney and Grant Gershon, baritone Abdiel Gonzalez, bass Reid Bruton and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus.

Fleischmann, who managed the L.A. Phil from 1969 to 1998 and is credited with transforming it into one of the nation's leading orchestras, died last June at the age of 85.

Hosting the concert for KUSC will be Gail Eichenthal and Brian Lauritzen.

Meantime, it was business as usual for KUSC Tuesday, a day after learning it would be getting some local competition beginning next week when KGIL-AM (1260) morphs back to its previous incarnation as KMZT (K-Mozart). Station executives said they weren't concerned about the explanation from station owner Saul Levine that he was changing formats in part because of what he believed was dissatisfaction among some listeners over how classical music is presented on KUSC.

"We don't expect Saul's format shift to have a negative impact on KUSC," station president Brenda Barnes said. "Since classical music is our mission, not our business, we are always glad when more classical music is available."

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--Lee Margulies

Photo: Ernest Fleischmann. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Classical music to get a second radio outlet in L.A. area

Classical music fans in the L.A. area will have a second radio station to listen to starting next week with the return of K-Mozart.

Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters said Monday that after more than three years of struggling to attract listeners to a talk and then a "retro music" format at KGIL-AM (1260), it would return the station to its previous incarnation as classical outlet KMZT beginning April 4. The programming also will be heard on KKGO-FM 105.1 HD2 and at www.KMozart.com.

KUSC-FM (91.5) has been the area's only classical station since the demise of KMZT in October 2007. In an interview Monday, Saul Levine, president of Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters (which also operates country station KKGO-FM and jazz station KKJZ-FM), said that situation was part of what motivated him to make the format change.

"There is a real public need" for another station, Levine said. "I don't want to be negative about my good friends at KUSC, but many people are not happy with what they're getting."

Barbra Streisand won't be playing Mama Rose after all, 'Gypsy' writer says [updated]

Everything is not coming up roses for the proposed big-screen remake of "Gypsy" that would have starred Barbra Streisand.  Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book for the original 1959 Broadway musical, told the Hartford Courant that he has withdrawn permission.

Laurents, who also has directed several Broadway revivals of the show, which features lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne, said his decision had nothing to do with Streisand. Some people had suggested the 68-year-old actress was too old to play Rose, the quintessential stage mother of two daughters who grew up to be stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and actress June Havoc.

"She could have done it," the 93-year-old Laurents told the Courant.  (And Streisand had told The Times in February that she was planning on it.) He said his mind was changed following a recent coversation with Sondheim about the purpose of another film version.  "Gypsy" was done for the movies in 1962 with Rosalind Russell, and then again for TV in 1993 with Bette Midler.

"He said, 'What is the point of it?' And I said, 'They have this terrible version with Rosalind Russell wearing those black and white shoes.' And then Sondheim told me something that he got from the British -- and it's wonderful. He said, 'You want a record because the theater is ephemeral. But that's wrong. The theater's greatest essence is that it is ephemeral. You don't need a record. The fact that it's ephemeral means you can have different productions, different Roses on into infinity.'

"So I don't want it now. I don't want a definitive record. I want it to stay alive."

A spokesman for Streisand referred an inquiry to Warner Bros. A studio spokesman could not immediately be reached Monday.

[Updated at 6:20 p.m.: A Warner Bros. spokeswoman said Monday evening, "We are not making it here." She declined to elaborate on the reasons.]

-- Lee Margulies

File photo of Rosalind Russell in the 1962 film version of "Gypsy."