Holiday gift guide 2010: Top 5 music picks

3. Gustavo Dudamel and Arvo Pärt

Put the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a stocking this year with two bestselling recordings. The company's new charismatic conductor, Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, set the tone with his debut. "Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic: The Inaugural Concert" is a DVD and iTunes download that features Mahler's First Symphony and a world première, "City Noir," from composer John Adams. The second recording (conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen), "Arvo Pärt: Symphony No. 4," is a CD of the orchestra presenting the Estonian composer's latest work. The music is shimmering and almost mournful, but stays on the melodic side of many modern trends, most notably atonality and minimalism. The CD has an additional recording, portions of the "Kanon Pokajanen" (1997), an a cappella choral piece with an Eastern Orthodox text.

3 of 5
You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.