California Chamber Symphony
| Company type | Orchestra |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Performing arts |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | Henri Temianka |
| Defunct | 1990-12-09 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Hong Kong |
Key people | Henri Temianka (founder, conductor) |
| Products | Classical music concerts, educational programs |
The California Chamber Symphony (CCS) was an orchestra headquartered at Royce Hall, part of the University of California, Los Angeles. Established in 1960 by violinist and conductor Henri Temianka, it holds the distinction of being Los Angeles’ inaugural true chamber orchestra.
History
In 1958, Henri Temianka, a violinist and conductor, initiated the Beverly Hills Concerts for Youth, showcasing pieces such as ‘’Peter and the Wolf’’ and Saint-Saëns’ ‘’Carnival of the Animals’’. These performances often featured celebrity narrators including Ray Bradbury, Victor Borge, and Peter Ustinov. The orchestra also involved audiences through interactive presentations like Benjamin Britten’s opera ‘’Noye’s Fludde’’ and organized special concerts at Juvenile Hall and for individuals with disabilities.
Originally called “The Temianka Little Symphony,” the group adopted the name California Chamber Symphony in 1960. Operating out of Royce Hall at UCLA, the CCS embarked on extensive tours throughout the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong, while also making appearances on television stations such as KCET and KNBC.
Throughout more than thirty years, the orchestra delivered upwards of 100 concerts. Its programming spanned from baroque and classical compositions to significant works by contemporary composers like Aaron Copland, Darius Milhaud, Dmitri Shostakovich, Malcolm Arnold, and Carlos Chavez, many of which were introduced to West Coast audiences for the first time. In 1962, violinist David Oistrakh collaborated with the CCS performing concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, and Bach, subsequently joining Temianka in Bach’s ‘’Double Concerto’’. Other distinguished soloists included Jean-Pierre Rampal, Henryk Szeryng, Leonard Pennario, and Benny Goodman. Temianka also worked alongside violist William Primrose and cellist Isaac Stern in renditions of Mozart’s ‘’Sinfonia Concertante’’.
A pioneer in audience engagement, Temianka frequently spoke directly to listeners about the music and its composers during concerts, initiating a series titled “Let’s Talk Music.” He played a key role in fostering the careers of artists such as Christopher Parkening, Jeffrey Kahane, Nathaniel Rosen, Timothy Landauer, and Daniel Heifetz, as well as supporting the Spanish Romero Guitar Quartet. In 1976, a related group named the California Chamber Virtuosi emerged, performing at locations including the J. Paul Getty Museum and Pepperdine University. The City and County of Los Angeles recognized the CCS with several official proclamations. The orchestra’s final concert took place on December 9, 1990. In 2022, Chapman University student Mitchell Tanaka commemorated Temianka’s contributions in a project titled "Temianka Talks Music."
Selected Performances
- A "Monster Concert" collaboration with Eugene List, showcasing 12 Steinway grand pianos and 36 pianists interpreting compositions by Louis M. Gottschalk and others
- Christus Apollo, a cantata composed by Jerry Goldsmith with text by Ray Bradbury, featuring narration by Charlton Heston
- The Triple Concerto by Gian Carlo Menotti, presented with the composer in attendance
- Cantata para America Magica by Alberto Ginastera, inspired by pre-Columbian Latin American melodies and arranged for soprano accompanied by 53 percussion instruments
- The 1971 West Coast debut of Shostakovich's Fourteenth Symphony
- A full presentation of Bach's six Brandenburg Concerti, led by conductor Otto Klemperer, with Temianka performing on violin, viola, and violino piccolo
- A tribute concert dedicated to Martin Luther King, hosted by Bill Cosby