Classical Californians: James Conlon

Bonnie Perkinson

This week's Classical Californian is the Music Director of Los Angeles Opera, conductor James Conlon. For many years, through a project called "Recovered Voices," he's tried to shine a spotlight on music that was suppressed or prevented from having the performances that they deserved. A double-bill at LA Opera through March 17th brings together a pair of works that fall into that category, and we'll get a taste of music by those composers and more - William Grant Still, whose Afro-American Symphony was groundbreaking in the history of Black American composers getting their works performed by major orchestras; Alexander Zemlinsky, who was in Mahler's circle in Vienna, and whose works were banned by the Nazis; there are also selections by Erwin Schulhoff and Felix Mendelssohn. Tune in Wednesday at 7 pm!

He begins with some music from one of the composers on the double-bill, William Grant Still, with a selection from his Symphony No. 1, "Afro-American" -

Then, he turns to the music of Alexander Zemlinsky - with the opening of his opera Der Zwerg, or The Dwarf.

Another of his works that Zemlinsky identified with very personally retold the story of the Little Mermaid - it's Die Seejungfrau... here's the last movement.

Among the composers of the "Recovered Voices" series is Erwin Schulhoff... up next is the third movement from his Symphony No. 5.

And to close, choral music by Felix Mendelssohn, with the final chorus from his Elijah.