August 7, 2025
The Loyola Law School Orchestra is proud to return to the iconic Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 7:30 PM.
Each Saturday morning, our musicians gather in rehearsal—an inspiring mix of law students, alumni, faculty, professionals, and community members—united by a shared commitment to music. Under the baton of our conductor Simona Grossi, the orchestra has grown not only in size but in depth, ambition, and cohesion. This week, Simona is meeting with our soloist, the brilliant pianist Jason Stoll, to shape the evening’s centerpiece: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Opening the program is that very concerto—a towering and beloved work of the Romantic repertoire, known for its sweeping drama, virtuosic demands, and unforgettable melodies. From its famous horn call and thunderous opening chords, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 sets a tone of grandeur and emotional urgency. The first movement is expansive and heroic, filled with technical challenges for both soloist and orchestra, including intricate coordination in the development section and delicate phrasing in the lyrical second theme. The second movement, a gentle Andantino, shifts into an unexpected middle section full of rhythmic sparkle, while the finale bursts forward with Slavic dance energy, daring the pianist to maintain control and brilliance through its relentless pace. Jason Stoll—whose performance of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with us last fall brought the house to its feet—returns to the Broad Stage to bring this masterwork to life.
The evening continues with another of Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces: his Symphony No. 5. Composed in 1888, the symphony is often described as a journey from darkness to light. The recurring “fate” motif that threads through all four movements reflects Tchaikovsky’s own struggles with self-doubt and destiny, making this symphony not only musically rich but psychologically charged. For the orchestra, the symphony presents a wide range of interpretive and technical challenges—long melodic lines for the strings that must sustain emotional intensity, demanding solos for clarinet and horn, and a final movement that tests ensemble precision and stamina. For the conductor, shaping the arc of this symphony means walking a fine line between emotional vulnerability and structural command, ensuring that each recurrence of the fate theme builds naturally toward its triumphant conclusion.
The concert concludes with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, orchestrated by Maurice Ravel. Originally composed as a piano suite in memory of Mussorgsky’s friend, the artist Viktor Hartmann, the piece invites listeners to wander through a musical gallery. Each movement depicts a different artwork—a gnome, a medieval castle, unhatched chicks, a bustling marketplace—interspersed with the recurring “Promenade” theme, representing the viewer strolling between the paintings. Ravel’s orchestration transforms Mussorgsky’s vivid miniatures into a kaleidoscope of orchestral color. For musicians, the piece offers a showcase of textures and timbres: high woodwind filigree, explosive brass calls, mysterious string tremolos, and complex rhythmic layering. The “Great Gate of Kiev,” with which the suite ends, is a triumph of brass and percussion—sonorous, majestic, and moving. It’s a thrilling closer, both musically and physically demanding, and it requires a high level of ensemble coordination and dynamic control to land its full impact.
This program is among the most ambitious the LLS Orchestra has ever tackled. It challenges every section and rewards every listener. We hope you’ll join us for an evening of drama, color, and community, as we bring these magnificent works to life in one of Los Angeles’s most treasured concert halls.
🎟️ Tickets: LLS Orchestra at the Broad Stage – Eventbrite
📅 Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
🕢 Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, Santa Monica
We can’t wait to see you there.