Pianist and USC alumn Hunter Noack brings his unique music series to L.A. for the first time
Classical music performances often draw notions of grand halls, but classical pianist Hunter Noack prefers a different approach.
Through his outdoor concert series In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild, Noack makes the outdoors his stage. And in September, he is set to mark his first L.A. performances with shows at Griffith Park on Sept. 26 and 27.
Set in the shadows of the iconic Hollywood Sign, the show is presented in partnership with Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit that helped restore the area for public access.
Founded in 2016 by the USC alum, In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild has removed barriers to live classical music performances for nearly 100,000 attendees. Taking the show to rural locations like Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, Cle Elum, Washington and Huntsville, Utah — often places with few opportunities atypical for classical music performances — Noack brings communities together through this unique experience.
Breaking away from the traditional enclosed stage, In a Landscape grants its audience freedom of movement, encouraging wandering and the exploration of the concert’s surrounding environment. Audience members listen through wireless headphones, allowing for consistent sound quality, even when moving about to take in the visuals the venue has to offer. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for a more stationary viewing experience.
Credit: Arthur Hitchcock for IN A LANDSCAPE
But don’t let the nontraditional location trick you: the classical performance remains a key factor. Noack travels with a 1912 Steinway Model D concert grand piano to each venue, with which he performs his 2022 album In a Landscape that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s traditional classical music chart.
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Still, the series ultimately gets its name from “In a Landscape” by post-war avant-garde composer John Cage. Each performance honors Cage’s ethos by redefining how music is heard and experienced. Noack says that by joining others and moving through the landscape, “[it] becomes a shared experience of listening — not only to the piano, but to the place itself.”
For music lovers looking to attend, ticket pricing begins at just under $50, including access and use of one headphone. “Doors” open at 2 p.m. and the show starts at 3 p.m. for both performances. Tickets are available online now.