Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
274
The world-class
Los Angeles P hilharmonic
(
&
323/850-2000;
www.laphil.org) is
the only major classical music company in Los Angeles, and it got a whole lot mor e
popular in 2003 with the completion of its incr edible home: the Walt Disney Concert
Hall (p. 164), located at the intersection of 1st S treet and Grand Avenue in the historic
Bunker Hill area. Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, this exciting addi-
tion to the Music Center of L.A. includes a breathtaking 2,265-seat concert hall, outdoor
park, restaurant, cafe, bookstore, and gift shop.
The Philharmonic's Finnish-born music director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, concentrates on
contemporary compositions; despite complaints from traditionalists, he does an excellent
job attracting younger audiences. Tickets can be hard to come by when celebrity players
like Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, and Yo Yo Ma are in town. In addition to performances
at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Philharmonic plays a summer season at the
Holly-
wood Bowl
(see “Concer ts Under the S tars” below) and a chamber music series at the
Skirball Cultural Center
(p. 167).
Slowly but surely, the
Los Angeles Opera
(
&
213/972-8001;
www.losangelesopera.
com), which performs at the
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,
is gaining respect and popu-
larity with inv entive stagings of classic pieces, modern operas, visiting div as, and the
contributions from high-profile artistic director Plácido Domingo. The 120-voice
Los
Angeles Master Chorale
sings a varied repertoire that includes classical and pop compo-
sitions. Concerts are held at the
Walt Disney Concert Hall
(
&
213/972-7200
) October
through June.
The
UCLA Center for the P erforming Arts
(
&
310/825-2101;
www.uclalive.org)
has presented music, dance, and theatrical performances of unparalleled quality for more
than 60 y ears and continues to be a major pr esence in the local and national cultural
landscape. Presentations occur at sev eral different theaters around Los Angeles, both on
and off campus. UCLA's
Royce Hall
is the Center's pride; it has even been compared to
New York's Carnegie H all. Recent standouts fr om the Center 's busy calendar included
the famous G yuto Monks Tibetan Tantric Choir and the Cinder ella stor y
Cendrillon,
with an original score by Sergei Prokofiev.
10
CONCERTS UNDER THE STARS
Also see “The Live Music Scene” on p. 260.
Hollywood Bowl
Moments
Built in the early 1920s, the Hollywood Bowl has
just undergone a major overhaul. The elegant Greek-style natural outdoor amphitheater,
cradled in a small mountain cany on, is the summer home of the Los Angeles P hilhar-
monic and Hollywood Bowl orchestras, and often hosts internationally kno wn conduc-
tors and soloists on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Friday and S aturday concerts typically
feature orchestral swing or pops concer ts. The summer season also includes a jazz series;
past performers have included N atalie Cole, D ionne Warwick, and Chick Cor ea. Other
events, from standard rock-'n'-roll acts like Radiohead to Garrison Keillor programs, sum-
mer fireworks galas, and the annual M ariachi Festival, are often on the season's schedule.
To round out an evening at the Bowl, many concertgoers use the occasion to enjo y a
picnic dinner and a bottle of wine—it's one of L.A.'s grandest traditions. You can prepare
your own or order a picnic basket with a choice of hot and cold dishes and a selection of
wines and desserts from Patina's on-site catering department, which also provides delivery
to box seats: Call
&
323/850-1885
by 4pm the day befor e you go to place y our food
order. Arrive a couple of hours before the show starts, in order to dine while listening to
