Conductor

Pianist

Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1 is an iconic masterpiece that compressed a whole symphony orchestra to 15 musicians and four movements to one. His model inspired many others, including Franz Hasenöhrl, who arranged Richard Strauss’s tuneful Till Eulenspiegel from a massive orchestra to violin, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and double bass. Two-time Oscar-winning film composer Leonard Rosenman studied with Schoenberg. Scott Dunn’s piano four hands arrangement offers a taste of Rosenman’s East of Eden. Two works packed with emotion provide a bittersweet finale to the final season. Bach’s monumental Chaconne is a 15-minute tour de-force. Jacaranda fades to black with Mahler’s final work, the fiercely beautiful Symphony No. 10 Adagio arranged by Hans Stadlmair for strings.

EPSG:4326

Fierce Beauty Part Ii

First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica

This Vienna/LA double portrait pairs Schoenberg’s delightful Presto in C Major with Schubert’s Quartetsatz in C minor. His debt to Schubert is heard in Transfigured Night. Solo piano works illustrate the composer in LA. Eldon Rathburn’s Schoenberg vs. Gershwin: A Tennis Match portrays close friends and tennis partners. The Canadian film composer won the LA Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Award in 1945 for which Schoenberg was a judge. Erich Zeisl’s Pieces for Barbara were composed for his young daughter who married Schoenberg’s son Ronald. Ernst Krenek, who emigrated in 1938, composed the witty and heartfelt George Washington Variations. Set to Lord Byron’s protest of tyranny, Schoenberg’s Ode to Napoleon, composed during WW II, extols Washington.

Transatlantic

Mezzo-Soprano Alexandra Rodrick will be performing this afternoon for Milena Kitic, who unexpectedly is unable to appear. We thank Alexandra for stepping in at the eleventh hour, and wish Milena well.  Opera returns to Orange County as Parnassus Society presents another spectacular concert featuring internationally-acclaimed opera stars and the Parnassus Chamber Orchestra led by maestro Scott Dunn. Scenes from the greatest of grand operas are strung together to tell one story of devotion and betrayal, including Carmen, Rigoletto, Faust, Don Carlos, Il Trovatore and more. Our star-studded cast includes Grammy Award-winning operatic baritone Nmon Ford, mezzo-soprano Milena Kitic “vocally resplendent,” tenor Bruce Sledge “voluminous and radiant,” and soprano Lynette Tapia “exquisite…vibrant.” This is a concert you don’t want to miss.

Scott Dunn

Conductor, Pianist

Events

Feb 25, 2024

Fierce Beauty Part Ii · Jacaranda Music

Jan 14, 2024

Transatlantic · Jacaranda Music

Mar 27, 2022

Love, Betrayal and Vengeance · Soka Performing Arts Center

About

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