Press Quotes About the Los Angeles Master Chorale
General Quotes
The Los Angeles Master Chorale delivered the choruses with a mightily focused tone.”
– The New Yorker, May 4, 2009
The Master Chorale nailed everything.”
– Los Angeles Times, May 18, 2009
Los Angeles Master Chorale music director Grant Gershon seems to be what the late, 19th century-born Times music critic Albert Goldberg would have called “the New Man” – someone at home with up-to-the-minute devices such as the iPod.”
– Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2009
That Gershon commands forces expertly is something he has shown time and again at the Master Chorale.”
– Los Angeles Times, May 22, 2009
Grant Gershon, best known as the music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, proved an exacting, sensitive, deeply involved Verdi conductor.”
– Los Angeles Times, May 23, 2009
magnificently powerful singing”
– Los Angeles Times, April 18, 2009
(Roberto) Sierra’s expansive, 75-minute 2006 work – the composer’s most ambitious to date – was given a mostly glorious West Coast premiere performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday as the suitable grand season-closing event for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Assured and adventurous master chorale director Grant Gershon beautifully handled the expanded population of choral and orchestral forces filled the Disney stage.”
– Los Angeles Times, June 2, 2009
The Master Chorale is not just any ensemble – it is the nation’s, and maybe the world’s, most innovative choral group, thriving under its vibrant music director, Grant Gershon. They’ve commissioned 21 and premiered 51 new works, bringing vital spirit to an art form that goes all the way back to medieval Gregorian Chants.”
– ArtsLosAngeles, February 20, 2009
a little slice of heaven . . . absolutely breathtaking”
– Malibu Times, December 3, 2008
Maestro Grant Gershon took the stage, and with minimal greetings whistled a single note, gave the downbeat, and oh, the glorious a cappella chord that burst from 96 throats in perfect harmony was truly awesome”
– Classical Voice, October 20, 2009
In the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s multi-season survey of Haydn’s Masses, music director Grant Gershon put together a number of odd-couple juxtapositions. For the conclusion of the series Sunday night, Gershon hit upon the most inspired combination of all – Haydn and Messiaen.”
– Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2009
Gershon did a terrific job of pulling off the delirious rushes of near-chaotic dissonances and shattering crescendos – and the dazzling clarity of Messiaen’s sonorities produced repeated outbreaks of goose bumps. In a word, this performance deserved a “Wow.”
– Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2009
In this finale to the Haydn project, Gershon went out on top.”
– Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2009
ravishing lyrical and beautiful”
– Los Angeles Sentinel, April 23, 2009
a riches of classical music”
– San Gabriel Valley Tribune, April 26, 2009
The chorus sang with full force and never lost its focus. The excellent orchestra, though, was the surprise. The Master Chorale has clearly been putting some investment into it, and the results were gratifying.”
– Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2009
(Gershon’s conducting) is forceful, precise, incisive”
– Orange County Register, May 22, 2009
Grant Gershon, Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, managed to direct a fully engaged performance of “Elijah” from initial downbeat to the final glorious chord. The Master Chorale sang with full-throated magnificence in all sections, in all dynamic aspects, with admirable clarity of diction.”
– Classical Voice, February 2009
in his impressive performance of the oratorio, the chorus’ music director, Grant Gershon, brooked on no level the possibility that Mendelssohn could have been a lightweight -- musically, intellectually or dramatically”
– Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2009
a splendid performance of Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah… last night’s concert was a triumph on all levels. Gershon led a taut, propulsive performance, letting up on the pedal only slightly for the intricate choral fugal sections. He also made effective use of the silences in the piece and even managed the difficult feat of making the second section nearly as riveting as the first, not easy since most of the drama occurs in the first half.”
– Pasadena Star News, January 26, 2009
The chorale sang robustly in the powerful sections and lyrically in the softer ones, maintaining a beautifully burnished sound.”
– Pasadena Star News, January 26, 2009
Grant Gershon… has built a career on championing contemporary music.”
– Pasadena Star News, January 26, 2009
Grant Gershon … often uses his program titles merely as a starting point building imaginative evenings”
– Class Act, February 23, 2009
The evening’s high point (to these ears) was Music’s Music by Stephen Sametz, a gorgeous 14-minute work commissioned by Kathy and Alan Freeman. The chorus’s opening lines, sliding in underneath the soloist, were exquisite.”
– Class Act, February 23, 2009
awesome”
– ArtsLosAngeles, February 20, 2009
I was blown away by the gorgeous artistry”
– Arts in Los Angeles, February 20, 2009
the highlight of the weekend was the latest Los Angeles Master Chorale show”
– Out West Arts, February 24, 2009
the program showed off what I love best about the chorale, superb musicianship and a serious interest in contemporary compositions”
– Out West Arts, February 24, 2009
the musical stand-out among the newer works, however, was Nico Muhly’s Expecting the Main things from You”
– Out West Arts, February 24, 2009
deeply satisfying… meltingly sung by the Master Chorale”
– Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2009
Gershon lead an iPod kind of Master Chorale program”
– Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2009
The chorus of two sopranos and two mezzo-sopranos was drawn from the Los Angeles Master Chorale. They were as bright and blinding as sunlight.”
– Los Angeles Times, January 22, 2009
The women of the Los Angeles Master Chorale contributed an array of haunting vocal sounds, hushed hums, sustained high tones, sputterings and more.”
– New York Times, April 13. 2009
one of the city’s cultural treasures and one of the world’s premier choruses”
– Los Angeles Sentinel, December 25, 2008
The Master Chorale, the area’s finest chorus, lent plenty of gravity and generally appealing diction to the proceedings.”
– Musical America, September 16, 2008 (performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with LA Philharmonic conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen)
I noted there were more than a few tears wiped away as the Chorale’s beautiful voices faded away.”
– La Canada Valley Sun, November 13, 2008
the Los Angeles Master Chorale, a.k.a. ‘The Voice of Disney Hall’”
– Arroyo Monthly, December 2008
committed to providing meaningful arts education programs”
– Los Angeles Sentinel, December 25, 2008
gorgeous music superbly performed”
– Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2008
under Gershon, the Master Chorale seems to be able to master anything”
– Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2008
a golden, global evening”
– Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2008
Gershon led his polished forces with typical commitment”
– Musical America, November 13, 2008
With spine-tingling clarity and perfect harmony, the soothing sounds seemed to transport the audience into a Zen-like state, far, far away from Grand Avenue and onto another planet in another place and time.”
– Malibu Times, December 3, 2008
Another notable and spectacular concert season”
– – La Canada Valley Sun, November 13, 2008
The solo quartet, all drawn from the ranks of the Master Chorale, were extraordinarily well chosen for the task, and sang like a true quartet instead of the usual four soloists all taking their turns.”
– Classical Voice, October 2008
bright, clear American choral sound”
– Los Angeles Times, October 14, 2008
an eclectic lineup”
–City Beat, November 6, 2008
adventurous”
– San Marino Tribune, November 6, 2008
The effect of La Koro Sutro was immediately noted in the number of nodding heads, as older audience members either connected with their Asian past lives or were lulled into the arms of Morpheus, almost from the first movement. The hypnotic effect was well crafted, though, and authentic, as opposed to derivative. The Master Chorale stayed awake and alert throughout, delivering a solid choral sound core decorated by the gamelan. One could all but smell the burning hemp and joss sticks.
– Classical Voice, November 2008
The straw that stirs the drink is Grant Gershon, who has caused all of this to come together, from the music and dance elements to motivating the funding that keeps ticket prices reasonable in a terrible economy. It was his vision and determination, coupled with his enormous talents that physically and spiritually kept the two pieces flowing with the precision of his conducting fueled by a quiet, inner confidence that illuminated both performers and audience. It is no small feat to make asymmetric sounds and movement coalesce into such perfection. Once again it must be said, Los Angeles is lucky to have him. ”
Master Chorale Music Director Grant Gershon balanced his opulent chorus and the spirited if a tad sour Old Granddad (Lou Harrison’s hand-constructed gamelan) with aplomb.”
– Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2008
Gershon and his chorus delivered punctiliously, paying particular attention to dynamics. Most impressive of all was the work’s conclusion, in which a mighty crescendo slowly dissolved into a solitary ringing and ultimately faded away into nothing.”
– Musical America, November 13, 2008
Messiah Sing-Along – December 2008
Long considered a highlight of the holiday season”
– LA City Beat, December 3, 2008
the Messiah sing-along turns Disney Hall into the ultimate surround-sound venue when the audience becomes the choir”
– LA City Beat, December 3, 2008
284 years later, The Messiah is still a holiday bestseller, especially in its sing-along incarnation”
– LA Weekly, December 3, 2008
The exciting thing about this concert though, is it's a sing-along! After this, you can mention on your resume or biography that you performed at the Disney Hall! Now isn't that something.”
– LAIst.com, December 4, 2008
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SING? Many dream of warbling inside Walt Disney Concert Hall. And, every so often, they get their chance when the very popular "Messiah" sing-along with the Los Angeles Master Chorale turns the mic on the audience. In short? It's your voice and your night. Mi mi mi mi...”
– NBC Around Town, December 7, 2008
one advantage is the opportunity to sing in Disney Hall, an auditorium that works wonderfully for voices of all quality”
– Pasadena Weekly, November 30, 2008
Holiday Wonders – December 2008
one of the city’s most popular traditions for adults and children of all ages”
– Larchmont Chronicle, December 2008
captures the essence of the season”
– Palisadian-Post, December 4, 2008
High School Choir Festival – April 2009
Finding ways to make Gregorian chants and Renaissance cantatas appeal to students more attuned to the thumping beats of electronic drums and sampled melodies is hard work.”
– Daily News, April 24, 2009
For many participating teens, the festival will be their first visit to a concert hall.”
– Daily News, April 24, 2009
Introducing teens to the word of choral music has become a favorite activity for Grant Gershon, music director of the Los Angels Master Chorale.”
– Daily News, April 24, 2009
something (the students) will remember for the rest of their lives”
– Star News, April 25, 2009
the sound is indescribably amazing”
–Star News, April 25, 2009
When the festival was over, the students spilled out onto Grand Avenue, brimming with energy and song.”
– San Gabriel Valley Tribune, April 29, 2009
The students were rapt in their seats.”
– San Gabriel Valley Tribune, April 29, 2009
provides vital mentorship for young singers”
– Beverly Press, April 23, 2009
very moving”
– Valley News, April 12, 2009
Area high school students got an experience Friday morning a lot of professionals will never have.”
– Pasadena Star News, April 24, 2009
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10/02/09