New classical music group samples from Bach to Radiohead
-
-
- slagface
- added this
You'd be forgiven for mistaking wild Up, a newly formed Los Angeles chamber orchestra, for an indie rock band.
For one thing, the ensemble has chosen to hold its first concert in Echo Park -- ground zero for experimental rock in L.A. In addition, the group said it encourages its audience to walk around and drink beer and wine during the performance, which will include music ranging from Bach to Radiohead.
Headed by Christopher Rountree (pictured), wild Up is a 24-member collective comprised of young musicians from around L.A. (Members range in age from 19 to 29.) The ensemble features string, woodwind and other instrumentalists you would expect from a chamber group, except that the group's presentation favors intimacy over the formality of classical concerts.
Friday's inaugural performance, which takes place at 8 p.m. at Jensen's Recreation Center Studio in Echo Park, will grant audiences close physical proximity to performers.
"Your typical classical concert has this strange thing called a stage," said Rountree in a recent interview. "The musicians are placed on a pedestal and the conductor is even higher on his own pedestal. That's not what we want to do."
He said the group chose the space at Jensen's Recreation Center after seeing a performance there by the experimental Brooklyn rock band Dirty Projectors.
Rountree, who will serve as conductor, said that audiences will have the choice of traditional seating or lounge seating. (Some of the seating faces away from the performers. Audiences will also be allowed to drink and socialize during the performance.
Friday's concert will survey music from 300 years of Western culture, including Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, John Adams' Chamber Symphony, Stravinsky's "Dumbarton Oaks" and an arrangement of Radiohead songs.
For one thing, the ensemble has chosen to hold its first concert in Echo Park -- ground zero for experimental rock in L.A. In addition, the group said it encourages its audience to walk around and drink beer and wine during the performance, which will include music ranging from Bach to Radiohead.
Headed by Christopher Rountree (pictured), wild Up is a 24-member collective comprised of young musicians from around L.A. (Members range in age from 19 to 29.) The ensemble features string, woodwind and other instrumentalists you would expect from a chamber group, except that the group's presentation favors intimacy over the formality of classical concerts.
Friday's inaugural performance, which takes place at 8 p.m. at Jensen's Recreation Center Studio in Echo Park, will grant audiences close physical proximity to performers.
"Your typical classical concert has this strange thing called a stage," said Rountree in a recent interview. "The musicians are placed on a pedestal and the conductor is even higher on his own pedestal. That's not what we want to do."
He said the group chose the space at Jensen's Recreation Center after seeing a performance there by the experimental Brooklyn rock band Dirty Projectors.
Rountree, who will serve as conductor, said that audiences will have the choice of traditional seating or lounge seating. (Some of the seating faces away from the performers. Audiences will also be allowed to drink and socialize during the performance.
Friday's concert will survey music from 300 years of Western culture, including Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, John Adams' Chamber Symphony, Stravinsky's "Dumbarton Oaks" and an arrangement of Radiohead songs.
-
- groups:
- Classical Music
-
- tags:
- Classical, Classical Music
