Zubin Mehta / LA Phil / Mahler 3

[LaTrompeta]

Went to a good concert tonight, it was Zubin Mehta conducting Mahler 3 @ the LA Philharmonic. I flew in from Las Vegas just to see this concert. I figured I would not have many more opportunities to hear Mehta conduct a Mahler Symphony and 3 is my favorite anyway.

Well, what can I tell you, it was absolutely fantastic. Just what I was hoping for. The brass really shone, too. That was my first time hearing a concert in the WD Concert Hall. It's a little smaller than I thought. Because it's small, it's somewhat dry, but that comes with a level of clarity and intimacy I was not expecting. I am used to concert halls more like Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City which is a more traditional, "elongated box" style concert hall.

Tom Hooten played the posthorn solo. I got a glimpse of the instrument he used and I'm 95% certain it was a Yamaha C cornet.

Their brass section blends exceptionally well. During the little "duet" between 4th trumpet and principal trombone toward the end of the brass soli in Mvt VI, I could not hear any difference at all in timbre between the two. It was perfectly blended. Spectacular.

Well, it was a great concert. Makes me wish I could come more often but any trip to downtown LA seems to magically suck my wallet dry!
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[MrClean]

I’m glad you enjoyed the performance - that was a really special week with Mehta. He’s gruff and old school, but I absolutely love working with him.

Thanks for the kind words about the duet with the 1st trombone. The chorale that immediately precedes it is exponentially more difficult, haha. Tom was nails on it all week.
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Jim Wilt
LA Philharmonic
Colburn School