It is about time the world joined me in waking up to the greatness of Leonard Pennario. It is happening.
The other day I rejoiced in France Musique's five-day exploration of the recently released Pennario RCA box set.
Today I got word that the Los Angeles Philharmonic is featuring Pennario in an upcoming exhibition!
This is great news. As I told the L.A. Phil staffer who reached out to me, Pennario was always proud of his association with that orchestra, ever since he made his debut there at 14, under the baton of the great Otto Klemperer.
The featured performance comes from the Los Angeles Philharmonic's archives and is of Beethoven's Triple Concerto. This makes me very happy because Pennario never made a record of this particular piece. He performed it only a handful of times -- three or maybe four, not more than that. Pennario was funny that way. It was totally normal for him to do a concerto only once or twice in his life, on demand. He had that capability.
I will present the rest of the details as they reach me. Either that or I will present them tomorrow when I have occasion to look them up in my overstuffed files. I was ready just now to start guessing who the two other soloists are in the concerto, but just so as not to confuse things, I will get the facts. This concert is on file somewhere in the other room and I will be able to tell you the who, the when, and the where, if not the how and the why.
This exhibition must be part of the orchestra's celebration of its 100-year-anniversary. They must be looking back on highlights.
What a lucky group of musicians to have Leonard Pennario living right in their back yard, and soloing with them on a regular basis. And to record with them, too, on multiple occasions. That fine record at the top of this post featured Pennario playing Rachmaninoff with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Erich Leinsdorf.
And there is this.
And many more.
How gracious of L.A. to remember L.P.
The name Leonard Pennario is being spoken!
Greatt reading this
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