Bonjour!
TRK is your connection to French language cultures from around the world!
TRK is your connection to French language cultures from around the world!
November 7, 2024
Kora: Sophie Lukacs Bass: László Koós Percussion (calabash) & vocals: Noel Mpiaza
Budapest-born and now based in Montreal, Sophie Lukacs is one of the few women in the world to master the kora, a West African instrument traditionally passed down through men in griot families. Her exceptional talent has led to collaborations with celebrated Malian musicians like Habib Koité and Toumani Diabaté, and she won the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award for Global Roots Album of the Year.
May 17, 2024
TRK presented the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra (LAV) conducted by Carlo Ponti, and featuring emerging talent on the piano, Hye Jin Park. Special guests includes world-class Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito performing a rendition of the classic Italian song 'O Sole Mio', dedicated to Sophia Loren, in attendance.
The proceeds from this concert benefit music education in Southern California.
April 7, 2024
Renowned for his genre-defying style, John Scofield has captivated audiences worldwide with his distinctive sound that effortlessly blends jazz, funk, and blues. Vicente Archer's soulful bass lines and Bill Stewart's masterful drumming provide the perfect foundation for Scofield's genre-defying guitar work.
This dynamic trio, celebrated for its exceptional chemistry and innovative improvisation, will take the audience on a sonic journey through the realms of jazz, showcasing the depth and breadth of their collective talent.
March 17, 2024
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with renowned musician Séamus Egan at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz.
It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his groundbreaking solo work with Shanachie Records, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today.
February 28, 2024
"Right in the eye" is a magical show where a evocative and intricate score complements the fantastical films of one of the earliest cinematographers, Georges Méliès.
On stage, a trio of virtuoso musicians conjure music from an extraordinary array of instruments as a projection of Méliès films transport us to another universe.
Instruments include the basics like piano, percussion and guitar with fantastic oddities like the aquaphone, theremin and melodica; and mundane objects like stemware, circular saws, and even plastic take-out lids!
February 15, 2024
TRK is thrilled to announce a captivating evening with acclaimed Québécois singer Dominique Fils-Aimé for a one-night-only performance as she returns to the stage to present her new album ‘Our Roots Run Deep’ released in September 2023 on Ensoul Records.
Dominique Fils-Aimé, celebrated for her powerful vocals and versatile musical talent, won a Felix in 2019 for Jazz Album of the Year, a JUNO in 2020 for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year and was nominated for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize shortlist in both 2019 and 2021. The mercurial singer-songwriter hailing from Montreal dazzles the listener with her radiant voice and underlying message of empathy.
January 19-20-21, 2024
Back by popular demand, the Django à Gogo Festival with Stephane Wrembel band and guests is year marks the 2nd edition of the Django a Gogo Los Angeles, a music festival dedicated to the art of the greatest guitar master who ever lived: Django Reinhardt. This one-of-a-kind 3-day festival features a stellar lineup, including the internationally acclaimed Stephane Wrembel Band, the enchanting Aurore Voilqué from France on violin, the charismatic Simba Baumgartner from France on guitar (Django Reinhardt’s great-Grandson), the vivacious Russell Welsh hailing from the heart of New Orleans, Baltimore-based guitar virtuoso Sam Farthing, Tommy Davy on guitar, Luanne Homzy on violin (the two are part of the LA-based Trio Dinicu, specialized in Eastern European Gypsy Folk).
November 30, 2023
Born to Gypsy parents near the German border in Lorraine, Dorado Schmitt was weaned on traditional Roma music and Gypsy jazz. He is joined by his sons, Samson and Amati Schmitt, creating a veritable guitar dynasty on stage, along with the brilliant rhythm guitarist Francko Mehrstein and Gino Roman on bass and Roger Kellaway on piano.
The group’s music transports listeners to Paris in the 1920s and ’30s, when hot jazz filled the air and Django was king. The Django Festival All Stars bring Reinhardt’s music into the 21st century, honoring traditions and standards while adding their own interpretations, arrangements, and original compositions.
October 20, 2023
With a rich variety of orchestral works for strings, including one of Eric Satie’s evergreens, Gymnopedie no. 2, W.A. Mozart’s genial Divertimento in B-Flat Major, and compelling musical gems by Carl Nielsen and Franz Schubert, this LAV concert proudly marked its 9th spectacular season at TRK.
The concert on October 20th featured the award-winning South Korean violinist YuEun Kim, a prime example of how a virtuosi soloist can benefit from access to a professional orchestra to bring a career in music into focus.
September 29, 2023
On TRK Season Opening Night, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) perform a lively program highlighting the ensemble’s talent and triumph over intolerance.
A 40-man ensemble sing iconic dance anthems like “Born this Way” (Lady Gaga), “About Damn Time” (Lizzo), and classic hits like “Vogue” (Madonna), “I’m Coming Out” (Diana Ross), and “Dancing in the Streets” (Martha & The Vandallas), along with showtune classics like “The Battle of Sweeny Todd” and “I Feel Pretty” (by Stephen Sondheim).
May 12, 2023
Celebrated soprano Lisa Delan performs one of her signature works. Two rising musical stars in their Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra debut perform an exciting finale by Jacques Castérède and W.A. Mozart’s Harp and Flute Concerto.
Carlo Ponti was named Ufficiale dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for his contribution to the artistic heritage of Italy! Attendees at the May 12th concert witnessed the honor bestowed upon Maestro Ponti by the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles, Raffaella Valentini.
With Special Guests: Hannah Brier, Percy Cardona, and Ramiro Belgardt
Cinco de Mayo, 2023
The French rarely celebrate defeat, but for this band, we’ll make an exception. On the heels of their US and European tour with Sting, rising stars The Last Bandoleros gain acclaim in their own right with their special blend of Tejano and Tex-Mex songs in Spanish, English, and “Spanglish”, straight from the Texas-Mexico border.
January 27-29, 2023
A weekend of shows, workshops and jam sessions celebrating the musical legacy of Django Reinhardt. Featuring nightly concerts headlined by The Stephane Wrembel Band with Special Guests.
Stephane Wrembel (guitar), Josh Kaye (guitar), Nick Anderson (drums), Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), Luanne Homzy (violin), Tommy Davy (guitar), Sam Farthing (guitar), George Miu (cymbalum), Alfonso Ponticelli (guitar).
Thursday, December 8, 2022
The Lost Fingers with Special Guest John Jorgenson transform pop and rock music classics into a fresh new sound inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, all with a hint of bluegrass. The quartet features remarkable musicianship, heavenly vocals, and inventive arrangements, along with a keen sense of humor and eccentric fashion.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Majid Bekkas, the talented multi-instrumentalist transports music lovers to the crossroads of fusion between traditional Gnaoua music and blues.
Friday, September 30, 2022
“Sensational Strings”
LAV returns for its 8th season at TRK with a special program. The professional orchestra, the young virtuosi talent, and Carlo Ponti take the stage together in a unique program that features orchestral favorites by Camille Saint-Saens, Bach, and Josef Suk.
Friday, September 16, 2022
Bernie Dresel is a jazz drummer extraordinaire who brings high energy to each performance. Comprised of seasoned pros on the Los Angeles studio scene, this riveting ensemble captures the spirit of big band jazz and delivers a contemporary, highly original sound featuring the witty, intricate, and hard-swinging compositions of established and emerging composers and arrangers.
Friday, June 17, 2022
Biréli Lagrène is considered one of the world’s premiere practitioners of manouche jazz. Following in the footsteps of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, music has always been Lagrène’s language, and from a very young age was considered a child prodigy on the guitar.
Friday, May 27, 2022
Known in France for her vibrant performances, Jeanne Cherhal will take her Los Angeles audience on a musical journey through French cinema, performing celebrated songs by Serge Gainsbourg, Dalida, and Isabelle Adjani, and more iconic French sound
Saturday, May 20, 2022
“Orchestral Treasures”
Emerging young soloists gracing J.S. Bach’s Fifth Brandenburg Concerto, a musical favorite by Ottorino Respighi, and the West Coast premiere of French composer Charles Koechlin’s tone poem Sur les flots lointains, crown one of our most exciting seasons ever!
Friday, April 21, 2022
Joined by Brian Blade Fellowship pianist and arranger John Cowherd, ace bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Josh Dion, Scofield is plunging back into the music that colored his adolescent world, reinterpreting tunes by everyone from Leonard Bernstein, Neil Young and Buddy Holly to Stevie Wonder and the Grateful Dead (with some recent originals thrown in for good measure).
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra (LAV) virtuosi soloists performed on some of the finest rescued and restored instruments from the Holocaust, graciously provided by Violins of Hope. Performing on these recovered treasures, the young talent celebrated Jewish artistic and musical history through a program including pieces by John Williams (Schindler’s List), Felix Mendelssohn, and Darius Milhaud. Proceeds from this event further LAV’s mission to support music education in Southern Calfornia.
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Stephane Wrembel, the Paris-born, New York-based guitarist is "..the living face of gypsy jazz." (New York Observer). As one of the most highly regarded guitarists in the world specializing in the style of legendary composer/guitarist Django Reinhardt; he learned his craft among the Gypsies at campsites in the French countryside.
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Using a collection of violins, violas and cellos rescued from the Holocaust,Delirium Musicum, will perform a program rooted in the traditions passed on by the great masters, to build a future filled with hope and resilience. The chamber orchestra will perform on some of the finest rescued and restored instruments from the Holocaust, bringing fresh approach to the old masters through a program including pieces by Johannes Brahms and more.
Saturday, November 13, 2021
LAV is the only professional orchestra in the United States to offer aspiring young soloists the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the most talented musicians in the country. Access to a professional orchestra allows the next generation of aspiring talent to see how the pros work on their craft and pushes them to aspire to greater heights, bringing a professional career into focus.
Friday, September 24, 2021
Perla Batalla is known for making the stage come alive with her spellbinding voice. Deftly moving through musical genres, the audience will be taken on a musical journey as the Grammy-nominated Perla Batalla performs a variety of classic and original material, in both English and Spanish, with selections from Perla’s albums Gracias la Vida, Bird on the Wire, Discoteca Batalla, with favorite songs like Gracias A La Vida, Cucurrucucu, Hallelujah, Suzanne, Nature Boy, and more.
November 21, 2019
The Yuval Ron Ensemble, led by the Academy Award-winning composer (West Bank Story) and oud player, Yuval Ron, is an internationally acclaimed world-music favorite, featuring artists of varying faiths and backgrounds performing the sacred Jewish, Christian and Sufi music of the Middle East. The quintet features artists Qawwali singer Sukhawat Ali Khan, Arabic vocalist Najwa Gibran, percussionist Jamie Papish and, duduk and woodwind player Leo Chelyapov.
January 22, 2020
Lagrène’s acclaimed Gypsy Jazz Project ensemble features a trio format with saxophonist Frank Wolf and double bass player William Branard. Considered to be one of the world’s premiere practitioners of gypsy jazz, Biréli Lagrène follows in the footsteps of legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Lagrène hails from Alsace, France and plays with incredible precision, strength and virtuosity.
May 23, 2019
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in D minor, featuring the dazzling artistry of violin soloist YuEun Kim, concludes the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra’s fourth season in grand style at the Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, complemented by musical works from Erik Satie and Sir Edward Elgar.
October 18, 2018
John Scofield is considered one of the most creative, distinctive and versatile guitarist and composer. His influence began in the late '70s when he burst on the scene playing with greats like Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Billy Cobham. Possessor of a distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged Jazz, and R&B. Scofield has never lost the skill to continuously push the boundaries of the guitar as he has honed and explored a variety of musical territory with jazz as its core.
October 5, 2018
With musicians Pascal Danae (guitar/vocals), Rafgee (sousaphone) and Baptiste Brondy (drums/vocals), Delgres is a new breed of power-trio, with foot-stomping grooves and slide guitar twang soaked in urban rhythm! Delgres’ sound is soaked in blues though urban and open to the world, and sounds somewhere between Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen and the Black keys.
September 21, 2018
Guitar virtuoso Robben Ford’s latest album, Into The Sun, debuted at #2 on The Blues Charts and shines a bright light on his artful, contemporary songwriting and stunning playing. The five time Grammy nominee describes the 11 song set as “one of the top recordings I’ve ever done” and Guitar Player Magazine claims it “explores the breadth of Ford’s sophisticated, visionary writing and playing, creating a new chapter in his brilliant musical history.” Robben has recorded more than 35 albums under his own name and with various bands.
May 24, 2018
The performance will include “Beethoven and Friends,” a final performance by soprano Lisa Delan, and a dramatic reading of Ludwig van Beethoven’s First Symphony.
The Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra is a non-profit organization as well as a music ensemble that is devoted to the advocacy and support of music education. The Orchestra says that want every young person to have access to music education through their schools.
April 26, 2018
The voice of today's Quebec is coming to Los Angeles. Drawing from a rich heritage of traditional francophone songs, Mélisande [électrotrad] unearths rare treasures that are adapted with the distinctly modern sound of their band. The group offers an energetic blend of traditional music, pop and electro with a mix of acoustic and electric instruments, vocal harmonies and programming. Led by Mélisande and her husband Alexandre ‘Moulin’ de Grosbois-Garand, the band breathes fresh artistic life into the music scene.
October 26, 2017
The internationally acclaimed ensemble produces incredibly exciting sounds and compelling arrangements of classics across a variety of musical styles, all played upon Russian folk instruments. The three musicians of Trio Voronezh, Vladimir Volochin, Valerie Petruchin and Sergei Teleshev, are playing ethnic Russian folk instruments including the domra, a three-stringed long-necked mandolin, the triangular-shaped double-bass balalaika, the national instrument of Russia and the bajan, a button accordion.
September 15, 2017
Reflecting its mission to serve as a catalyst in reaffirming, advocating and supporting music education in schools and in the community, the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, in partnership with Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, will allocate all net profit from its subscription concerts at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz towards the advancement and support of music education programs in educational institutions, including Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles’ Music Department.
There is no other voice in Fado quite like that of Ana Moura. She strolls freely through tradition but flirts elegantly with pop music, broadening the spectrum of Fado, so typical of Lisbon, in a very personal way. But what sets her apart is not only the low-pitched and sensual tone, so unique – Ana Moura instantaneously transforms any melody to which she lends her voice, into Fado. It's an immediate spark, an emotional explosion aimed ruthlessly at the listener's heart
