Arts & Entertainment

Culinary Stars, Musicians to Mix in Santa Monica

The "Westside Connections" chamber music series will explore the relationship between music and culinary arts at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra will dish up a feast for foodies and classical music lovers alike during this year's "Westside Connections" series, which will pair talented musicians with top food writers and chefs.

Authors Jonathan Gold and Michael Ruhlman and chef and restaurateur Susan Feniger will explore the relationship between music and culinary arts at the three-part Thursday series at the in Santa Monica. The events are curated by Los Angeles Chamber concertmaster Margaret Batjer.

Each of the three events will include an opportunity for audience questions, organizers said in a press release.

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"Good food and good music are a natural pairing," Batjer said in the release.  "LACO is  delighted to present these stellar culinary celebrities as we explore in  these whimsical and informative programs the many ways music influences and  enriches society and our lives."

Now in its fourth season, the Westside Connections series have previously explored the effects of music on the mind, poetry and the creative process.

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The new series launches 7:30 p.m. March 1 and will feature a discussion led by Ruhlman.

Ruhlman, recently released the book Ruhlman's Twenty: The Ideas and Techniques that Will Make You a Better Cook. He has appeared on Travel Channel's popular show No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain and PBS' Cooking Under Fire, and has also served as a judge on Food Network's Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef.

The musical program includes Rossini's  String Sonata No. 1 in G major, Puccini's Crisantemi, Falla's Suite Populaire Espagnole and Schoenfield's Café Music.

"The program tempts with a variety of musical tastes and textures: Spanish
spice from Falla, a confectionary delight from Rossini and Puccini's
dark-hued elegy featuring two melodies the composer later incorporated into
his opera Manon Lescaut," organizers said in the news release.

Schoenfield's Café  Music was inspired by the contemporary composer's one-time employment as house pianist at a steakhouse. 

According to music writer John Windh, the work is  "a tongue-in-cheek musical goulash with a little of everything thrown in: kneejerk surprises, witty musical jokes, burlesque, sly twists, some Charles Ives, counterpoint, dazzling string writing, Gershwin, Broadway melody, Gypsy scales and bouncy rhythms.at times languid and sentimental, other times madcap." 

On March 22 Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Weekly food critic  Jonathan Gold joins a program with music by Bach, Bernstein, William Bolcom,  Timothy Andres and Dohnányi. "Westside Connections'" final "course" on  April 5 features celebrated chef, cookbook author  and restaurateur Susan Feniger (Border Grill restaurants, Border Grill Truck  and Susan Feniger's STREET) and the music of Saint-Saëns, Martinu and Ravel.

Westside Connections tickets are $45 per concert or $120 for a three-concert
subscription. They may be purchased online at laco.org, by calling LACO at 213 622 7001 x 1, or at the venue box office on the night of  the concert, if tickets remain.Discounted tickets are also available by  phone for groups of 12 or more. 

The Broad Stage is at 1310 11th Street in Santa Monica.


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