Le Salon de Musiques' October Concert 2012 October 14, 2012

The first concert of Le Salon de Musiques’ 3rd season on October 14 will feature GLINKA’s Serenade for Piano Sextet on Theme from Bellini and LYAPUNOV’s Piano Sextet op 63, with is a US PREMIERE. The concert will be introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson and performed by Roger Wilkie and Sarah Thornblade on Violins, Brian Dembow on Viola, Ron Leonard on Cello, Nico Abondolo on Bass and Gavin Martin on Piano. The performance will be followed by a one-hour informal conversation between the musicians and the audience where they can share ideas, concepts and impressions about the music performed while sipping French Champagne and enjoying a gourmet buffet prepared by Patina.
With five United States premieres and a retinue of newly rediscovered composers, “Le Salon de Musiques”, an ensemble of some of Los Angeles most renowned chamber music performers, returns for its third season and reexamines the Romantic and Neo-Romantic movements and their lesser known gems.
This distinctive series is being performed on the 5th floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (overlooking the Music Center) on the second Sunday of every month beginning October 2012 through May 19, 2013, between 4:00pm - 6:00pm.
Inspired by Marie Antoinette artistic spirit in Versailles, the one-hour concerts celebrating the five United States premieres and rediscovered composers are introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson and are followed by La Conversation, one-hour informal
Q and A between the musicians and the audience in which they share ideas, concepts and impressions about the music performed. French Champagne will be provided alongside a gourmet buffet prepared by Patina.
Regarding the inspiration behind the selection of the 2012-2013 season, French pianist and artistic director Francois Chouchan explains: “So many beautiful, melodic, lyrical and romantic pieces are still rarely performed; my idea was first to find and choose some of the most inspired lesser known and great German, Russian, Polish, and French composers and bring them out to combine an expressive, touching and moving program, which makes this season unique.”
Chouchan has invited some of the most prestigious international artists to join in this series, many of whom have performed with the LA Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to mention a few. The compositions being played include those by Brahms, Caplet, Chopin, Ravel, Zarebsky, Widor, Lyapunov, Bach, Debussy, Robert Schumann but also Camillo Schumann, Scharwenka, Glinka, Delius and Bridge among others.

By removing the stage, and surrounding the artists by the audience, Le Salon de Musiques offers a more personal and intimate touch to listeners eager to familiarize themselves with Chamber Music and to feel it differently. “ Chamber Music was written for intimate and small venues,” Chouchan says. The goal is also to bring together an audience of disparate backgrounds...music lovers who believe that this form of melodic artistry brings out the best in humanity.

Le Salon de Musiques Co-Artistic Director- John Walz: A celebrated soloist and chamber music artist, known for his dazzling virtuosity and elegant musicianship. A student of the legendary French cellist, Pierre Fournier, he has appeared as soloist with more than 150 symphony orchestras on four continents.

His performances of 25 different concertos include both standard showcases and rarities like Martinu’s Concerto #1 and William Schuman’s Song of Orfeus. In 1979, John, along with pianist Edith Orloff, founded the Pacific Trio. Now performing with violinist Roger Wilkie, this renowned ensemble has played more than 900 concerts throughout North America and Europe. In addition to his solo and chamber music duties, he is currently the principal cellist with the Los Angeles Opera, a position he previously held for 20 years with the Long Beach Symphony. John is on the faculty of the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program and Academy.

Official Website: http://www.lesalondemusiques.com