Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Led by Music Director Jaime Martín, Presents Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Featuring Celebrated Pianist Hye-Jin Kim

Gershwin’s distinctive and instantly recognizable Rhapsody in Blue, featuring noted South Korean pianist Hye-Jin Kim, is the centerpiece of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s upcoming program led by Music Director Jaime Martín on Saturday, April 1, 8 pm, at Glendale’s Alex Theatre, and Sunday, April 2, 2023, 7 pm, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Kim, praised for her “passionate, polished and expressive” performances” (Florida Weekly), interprets the original 1924 version of Gershwin’s Jazz Age masterpiece that integrates elements of classical music with jazz rhythms. Martín also conducts symphonic gems from the romantic and modern eras, including Schoenberg’s lush and melodious Chamber Symphony No. 2, and the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, considered one of his most popular works. Mendelssohn’s majestic Symphony No. 5 in D major, "Reformation,” caps the program.

Kim, who is on the piano faculty at Colburn School, is one of South Korea’s top classical stars. She is known for her musical sensitivity and deeply engaging performances that transport audiences beyond mere technical virtuosity. She first attracted international attention at age 17 when, as its youngest participant, she won third prize in Italy’s prestigious Busoni Competition. Kim also received prizes at the 2008 Hong Kong International Piano Competition, DAAD Prize, Steinway and Sons Advancement Award Competition, and Toronto International Piano Competition. She has performed and toured with numerous orchestras, including the Russian State Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Praha Broadcast and Budapest Symphony Orchestras, the State Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg, and Nürnberger Symphoniker. Kim made her major label debut with her recording of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerts Nos. 1 and 2 with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra led by Eduard Topchjan on Sony Classical in 2013 and her Carnegie Hall recital debut in 2016. 

Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is made possible, in part, from a generous contribution from Hilda Hererra Adler. The appearance of Hye-Jin Kim is made possible, in part, with support from Dr. Hervey Doris Segall.

LACO recognizes the generous support of the Colburn Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. The Orchestra also receives public funding via grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. LACO gratefully acknowledges Hogan Lovells US LLP for generous pro bono support.

Steinway is the official piano of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Royce Hall is located at 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095. The Alex Theatre is located at 216 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91203. For tickets ($32 - $142) and information, please visit www.laco.org or call 213 221 3920.

LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (LACO) ranks among the world’s top musical ensembles. Beloved by audiences and praised by critics, the Orchestra is a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and, with eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, a champion of contemporary composers. Headquartered in the heart of the country's cultural capital, LACO has been proclaimed “America’s finest chamber orchestra” (Public Radio International), “LA’s most unintimidating chamber music experience” (Los Angeles magazine), “resplendent” (Los Angeles Times), and “one of the world's great chamber orchestras"(KUSC Classical FM). Performing throughout greater Los Angeles, the Orchestra has made 32 recordings, including, most recently, a 2019 BIS Records release of works for violin and chamber orchestra that features Concertmaster Margaret Batjer and the world premiere recording of Pierre Jalbert’s Violin Concerto (a LACO co-commission). In 2020, due to the global pandemic, LACO pivoted from presenting live performances to producing the groundbreaking CLOSE QUARTERS interdisciplinary digital series melding musical and visual arts, which has garnered more than 1.8 million views across social media platforms since its debut in November 2020. The “digitally native” programs, created specifically for streaming and applauded as “musically and artistically compelling” (Los Angeles Times) have “redefined how classical music can be presented in the 21st century (Cultural Attaché). LACO, with offices located in downtown Los Angeles, has toured Europe, South America and Japan, and performed across North America. www.laco.org.

JAIME MARTÍN assumed his LACO post and also became Chief Conductor of Ireland’s RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in September 2019. In LACO concert reviews, the Los Angeles Times has hailed Martín’s “infectious music making,” noting “the musicians seem to be having a blast. The audience is invited to the party.” Overseas, he has been praised as "a visionary conductor, discerning and meticulous" (Platea Magazine), and London's The Telegraph said, "his infectious enjoyment of the music communicated to the orchestra and audience alike.” He has been Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Gävle Symphony Orchestra since 2013 and is the Artistic Advisor of the Santander Festival.  He was also a founding member of the Orquestra de Cadaqués, where he was Chief Conductor from 2012 to 2019. Having spent many years as a highly regarded flautist, Martín turned to conducting full-time in 2013, and very quickly became sought after at the highest level.  Recent engagements include appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, Antwerp Symphony, Dresden Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony and Gulbenkian orchestras, as well as a nine-city European tour with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Martín has recorded a series of highly acclaimed Brahms discs for Ondine Records with the Gävle Symphony and various discs with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra for Tritó Records. He has also commissioned multiple world and regional premieres of works by composers including Ellen Reid, Andrew Norman, Missy Mazzoli, Derrick Spiva, Albert Schnelzer and Juan Pablo Contreras. As a flautist, Martín was principal flute of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, English National Opera, Academy of St Martin the Fields and London Philharmonic Orchestra. Jaime Martín is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music, London, where he was a flute professor.