SONIC REALMS – Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
L’Ermitage Foundation Concert Series in Association with the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles and CAMARADA, the renowned chamber music collective presented SONIC REALMS, a concert of classical chamber music full of energy, life, and enthusiasm which was on March 24, 2026, at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Bel Air.
The rocking sensation of strong, resonant sounds, dynamic and deeply rooted in tradition, were performed by an extraordinary, super talented group of seven artists – Beth Ross Buckley, Flute; Dana Burnett, Piano; RusLan Biryukov, Cello; David Buckley, Violin; Batya MacAdam-Somer, Violin and Travis Maril, Viola in a program of music written by Jake Heggie, Philip Glass, Fikret Amirov and Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, in a piece which was narrated by Amin Mahini, an Azerbaijani-Iranian poet.
The gorgeous, serene and vibrant hotel was a perfect place to host this music that was at the Crossroads of Culture and imagination. The audience was welcomed with a reception of Azerbaijani delicious Pastries and Tea or coffee. Prior to the concert, the Grand Ballroom at Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel was also the setting for an Art Exhibit of works by Azerbajani Painter Nazim Hajiyev, with the concert commencing at 8:00 p.m.
SONIC REALMS concertgoers experienced a world where sound knows no borders, and music’s power to transcend place, time and genre through the sounds of flute, piano, and cello had a deep impact on everyone. Being there and experiencing the sounds that way was irreplaceable. On top of the extraordinary, creative and outstanding sounds, watching the hands of the performers mastering their musical instruments with such ease and virtuosity, was a gift indeed.
The Program consisted of music being performed for the first time in Los Angeles, including: Full Circle 50, for Flute, Cello and Piano written by Jake Heggie, the 21st-century opera, film and art song composer who resides in San Francisco; Annunciation, for String Quartet and Piano, written by Philip Glass, the Grammy Award-winning composer known for his operas, films and concert work; Pieces, for Flute and Piano written by prominent Azerbaijani composer Fikret Amirov; and two pieces composed by renowned Azerbaijani Composer, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Oyan! (Awaken!), a Rostropovich Competition Commission for Solo Cello and Mugam-Sayagi (Azerbajani Music with Western Influences) for String Quartet, music commissioned by the Kronos String Quartet in 1993.
Renee Cherniak, Executive Director of L’Ermitage Foundation said, “We are honored to present the San Diego-based critically acclaimed chamber music collective, Camarada in their debut in our concert series here in Los Angeles. The elegant program featured a seven and half foot Blüthner grand piano built by Julius Blüthner himself, which will be provided for our concert by Kasimoff-Blüthner Piano Co., Los Angeles’ oldest piano store.
To learn more about the L’Ermitage Concert Series and to obtain a tax-deductible membership in L’Ermitage Foundation, please visit online at http://lermitagefoundation.org