SoCal music & dance, Dec. 2-9: ‘Nochebuena,’ ‘The Nutcracker,’ Zubin Mehta and more
Classical, opera, jazz, folk, pop, rock, ballet, tap, flamenco, contemporary dance and more for LA & OC
Welcome to the latest TV or Not TV newsletter spotlighting music and dance performances all around Southern California this coming week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the LA Times’ Calendar section.
Classical & opera
‘Intimate Schoenberg: Schoenberg at 150 Festival’ Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform two works by the influential Austrian American composer. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3. $20-$65. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com
‘Candlelight Christmas’ The Long Beach Camerata Singers a capella chamber ensemble Catalyst performs a pair of holiday shows. Los Altos United Methodist Church, 5950 E. Willow St., Long Beach. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. Also at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $45-$70. longbeachcameratasingers.org
‘The Light of Hope Returning’ Pasadena Chorale is joined by Shawn Kirchner for the composer and pianist’s folk oratorio. First United Methodist Church, 500 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. Free; RSVP required. pasadenachorale.org
‘Art of the Spanish Guitar’ Pacific Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor Rune Bergmann, is joined by acclaimed guitarist Mak Grgić for Rodrigo’s “Fantasy for a Gentleman”; program also includes Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 5-7. $30-$251. (714) 755-5799. pacificsymphony.org
‘Brahms with Zubin Mehta’ The LA Phil’s conductor emeritus returns to lead the orchestra in Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 plus Violin Concerto featuring violinist Leonidas Kavakos. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 11 a.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6-8. $20-$65. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com
St. Matthew’s Music Guild Dwayne S. Milburn and the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and Choir of St. Matthew’s Parish pefroms works by Vivaldi, Corelli and Purcell, capped by an audience sing-along to Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. $45. (310) 573-7422. musicguildonline.org
‘Serve, Sing and Celebrate: RE/Sound Festival’ Street Symphony hosts a free day-long festival of music and service. The Midnight Mission, 601 San Pedro St., Skid Row, downtown L.A. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Free. streetsymphony.org
‘Celebrating Joy’ Los Angeles Children’s Chorus offers its annual winter concert. First United Methodist Church, 500 E, Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Also at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $29-$51; students 17 and under, half-price. (626) 793-4231. lachildrenschorus.org
‘Festival of Carols’ The Los Angeles Master Chorale performs traditional holiday favorites along with contemporary works. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $49-$179. (213) 972-7282. lamasterchorale.org
‘Musica Secreta’ Tesserae Baroque Ensemble performs in an intimate setting. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $35-$45. (626) 355-4318. sierramadreplayhouse.org
‘Winter Spectacular: Holidays of Light’ Artistic director Michael Christie and New West Symphony are joined by Los Robles Children’s Choir and guest vocalists for a program that includes works by Mozart, Grieg, Haydn, et al. plus an audience sing-along. Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Also at Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center, 4235 Mar Vista Drive, Camarillo. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $15-$125. (805) 497-5800. newwestsymphony.org
‘Andrea Bocelli in Concert’ The acclaimed Italian tenor performs. Kia Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $108 and up. andreabocelli.com
‘Handel’s Glorious Messiah’ Pacific Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor Christopher Warren-Green, is joined by Pacific Chorale and guest vocalists for the composer’s beloved 1742 oratorio. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $125 and up. (714) 755-5799. pacificsymphony.org
‘For Susan and Rick’ Piano Spheres artists pay tribute to the fellow pianist Susan Svrček, who died in 2022, and her husband, composer Frederick Lesemann, who passed the following year. The Colburn School’s Zipper Concert Hall and the Colburn Plaza, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. next Monday, Dec. 9. $15-$25. pianospheres.org
Jazz, blues, rock, folk, pop, world music & more
Marilyn Maye The veteran jazz vocalist graces the stage for one night only. Catalina Jazz Club, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3. $50-$115; food and drink minimums apply. (323) 466-2210. catalinajazzclub.com
‘Live in the Lounge: Women in Jazz with Sweet Baby J’ai’ The singer-actress fronts an all-star all-women band. The Ebell of Los Angeles, 4400 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. $25. ebellofla.org
‘Big Band Holidays: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’ The venerable ensemble — sans trumpeter and artistic director Wynton Marsalis — is joined by up-and-coming vocalists Ekep Nkwelle and Robbie Lee. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. $44-$135. thebarclay.org
‘Home for the Holidays’ With singers Ruben Studdard, Oleta Adams, Haley Reinhart and Peabo Bryson. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. $54 and up. (562) 916-8500. ccpa.cerritos.gov
Also at Pepperdine University’s Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. $50-$98. (310) 506-4522. arts.pepperdine.edu
Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan The two country music veterans share the stage as part of their joint “Grits & Glamour” tour. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. $35-$165. (562) 944-9801. lamiradatheatre.com
‘Merry-Achi Christmas’ With Sol de México de José Hernández, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and Folklórico Revolución. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6-8. $40 and up. (562) 916-8500. ccpa.cerritos.gov
‘Celtic Christmas’ With piper Eric Rigler of “Titanic” fame, plus guitarist Dirk Freymuth, fiddler Lily Honigberg, et al. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $528-$73; discounts available. soka.edu
‘Live Night: Cruising Bodies, Spirits, and Machines’ REDCAT and CAP UCLA co-present this cutting-edge program that includes “/Slash,” a sound-and-movement collaboration between rafa esparza and Tim Reyes; and “Imperium,” an immersive multimedia experience from performance collective MUXX. The United Theater on Broadway, 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $59, $60. cap.ucla.edu
‘Blue Suede Christmas’ Tribute artist Scot Bruce performs holiday hits associated with the rock and roll legend Elvis Presley. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $17-$74. (562) 944-9801. lamiradatheatre.com
Dance
‘The Nutcracker Suite’ L.A.-based American Contemporary Ballet reprises artistic director Lincoln Jones’ intimate take on the Tchaikovsky classic. Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St., Suite C-150, downtown L.A. Various days, dates and times thru Dec. 24. $75-$135. acbdances.com
BodyTraffic The L.A.-based contemporary dance company performs new and recent works by choreographers Trey McIntyre, Juel D. Lane and Matthew Neenan. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6-7. $49 and up. (310) 746-4000. thewallis.org
‘Dwelling: The Structures that Hold Us’ Cantilever Collective explores the concept of home from a child’s perspective in its first-ever evening-length work. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7. $30. highwaysperformance.org
‘The Nutcracker’ Los Angeles Ballet’s annual touring production of the holiday favorite returns. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6-8. $38-$131 (also at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Westwood, Dec. 13-15, $38-$131; and Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, with live orchestra, Dec. 19-22, 24 and 26-28, $45-$138). losangelesballet.org
’Turing Tests, Apples, and Queens: Collective Storytelling Through Fairy Tales and Artificial Intelligence’ Invertigo Dance Theatre performs this new work from company founder Laura Karlin as part of the Getty-led initiative “PST ART: Art & Science Collide.” Beckman Auditorium, Caltech, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7. $10-$44. (626) 395-4652. pst.caltech.edu
‘Little Women Ballet’ The March sister live, laugh and love in this full-length dance-theater work based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic American novel; for ages 12 and up. The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, located at 4401 W. 8th St., L.A. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $28-$40. littlewomenballet.com
‘Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular’ Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, Mariachi Pueblo Viejo and special guest, singer Camila Fernández, celebrate the season in this hit holiday show. The Soraya, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 7-8. $43-$138. (818) 677-3000. thesoraya.org
‘The Nutcracker’ Festival Ballet Theatre is joined by guest artists from noted companies around the country for its annual presentation of the holiday favorite. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7-8; also various times, Dec. 14-15 and 20-24. $54-$74. festivalballet.org
‘The Nutcracker’ Inland Pacific Ballet presents its annual staging of the holiday classic. Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, Dec. 7-8 and 21-22. (Also at Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, Dec. 14-15). $50 and up; discounts available. ipballet.org
‘Nutcracker for Kids’ A condensed version of the holiday favorite includes pre- and post-show activities. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $75 and up. (714) 755-5799. pacificsymphony.org
‘Pilobolus re:CREATION’ The acclaimed dance theater company revisits favorite repertoire in this stage spectacular. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St, Long Beach. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. $59. (562) 985-7000. carpenterarts.org
Also at Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. $28-$56. (310) 506-4522. arts.pepperdine.edu