Mark Swed has been the classical music critic of the Los Angeles Times since 1996. Before that, he was a music critic for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the Wall Street Journal and has written extensively for international publications. Swed is the author of the book-length text to the best-selling iPad app, “The Orchestra,” and is a former editor of the Musical Quarterly. He is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist in criticism, honored in 2021 and 2007.
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A look at what might be behind the closing of the Kennedy Center, which was created as a political act, and what that could mean.
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Frank Gehry, through making concert halls that inspired new ideas, wound up doing more to advance music than anyone else in the 21st century.
Herbert Ross’ beloved L.A. Opera production of Puccini’s ‘La Bohème,’ first seen in 1993 and many times revived, is back with a new cast, conductor and director
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Brahms’ viola-infused string quintets and sextets have in them the essence of amber autumn, and three major L.A. institutions coincidentally turned to them over six November days.
The Master Chorale performs the L.A. premiere of David Lang’s ‘before and after nature,’ concerned with environmental sustainability and social justice








