Blog | LA Phil

When Do We Clap?

February 4, 2011 | Posted by Barry Gold in Budapest

The final measures of the Mahler 9th symphony seem to linger on to eternity...and beyond. The marking in the score is "Eberst langsam," which means almost as slow as humanly possible, and finally, the last measure is "esterbend," or "dying." Maestro Dudamel has been holding onto the moment for as long as both he, the orchestra, and the audience could endure.

The orchestra stands as they acknowledge the audience's applause in Budapest.

The patrons last night in Budapest simply would not start to applaud for fear of breaking a magical spell that had been cast by the great performance. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the applause began and would never let up until the orchestra began to leave the stage.

To Trunk or Not To Trunk?

February 4, 2011 | Posted by Mick Wetzel in Vienna

This blog entry isn’t about any particularly cool city on this tour. They are all cool. It is instead about getting my viola from point A to point B. As members of the Philharmonic we have two options with regards to our instruments. We can hand carry our instruments or we can “trunk” them. If we hand-carry them it means that we have them with us at every turn. Can you imagine the overhead bin space on a trans-Atlantic flight if over 100 musicians hand carried their instruments? Besides, that's not really an option for cellists, bassists or percussion players anyway.

Orchestra's Viola case
Violist Mick Wetzel's instrument - he 'trunked it' on the first leg of this tour after agonizing over the decision.

Budapest at Night

February 3, 2011 | Posted by Kelly O'Connor

This is the spectacular view from our hotel in Budapest. This is what you get when you work with a world-class band like the Los Angeles Philharmonic!

A photo of Budapest at night, taken by Kelley O'Connor, who's traveling with the LA Phil as a featured guest artist during the 2011 European Tour.

And its a good thing, too. It is FREEZING here and even though we aren't having a "snowpocalypse" like some parts of the US, the lack of snow doesn't mean that I am wandering around the streets of Budapest. We ventured to the Great Market Hall today. A charming place with plenty of food vendors as well as Hungarian folk souvenirs - lots of them! But just because it is called a hall and it is covered doesn't mean it is inside. By the time I returned to the hotel I couldn't feel my hands or feet - brrrrr!

Great News!

February 3, 2011 | Posted by LA Phil on Tour in Los Angeles

There's some big news out of Budapest today!

Gustavo Dudamel
The LA Phil's Music Director, now through 2018/2019!

LA Phil President and CEO Deborah Borda announced that our beloved Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil have agreed to extend his contract with the orchestra through the 2018/19 season!

The news was made official after the second program in Budapest when he announced it to the orchestra.

His original contract as Music Director of the LA Phil, which began in 2009/10, was for five years. This extension will keep him in LA through the LA Phil's centennial season in 2018/19.

A Warm Reception in Chilly Budapest

February 3, 2011 | Posted by Mitchell Newman

It's below freezing cold in Budapest, but we are playing with such warmth and vigor. Last night's concert was a big success. In fact, even at intermission the audience started to clap in unison. This is the ultimate “bravo” from a European audience. (Feel free to do the same at home!)

The exterior of the Bartók National Concert Hall at the Palace of the Arts in Budapest (photo courtesy of KUSC's Brian Lauritzen).

During our rehearsals on this tour, Gustavo has been preparing us for the last two concerts in Vienna. We have not played at the Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic, since I have been in the orchestra (24 years, believe it our not). Obviously the standards are very high from audience and critics alike and Gustavo is trying to find the right sound and approach to playing in this very small jewelbox of a shrine to the orchestral art.

(Not) Groundhog Day

February 2, 2011 | Posted by Joanne Pearce Martin in Budapest

(Note: LA Phil Principal keyboardist Joanne Pearce Martin wrote this entry on February 1st, 2011; however, we think you'll agree it's perfect to publish today.)

Tomorrow is “Groundhog Day”. For those of you unfamiliar with the movie, the protagonist wakes up each day, faced with the same recurring events, repeated ad infinitum. To the uninitiated, touring with a symphony orchestra might seem like Groundhog Day: Eat, Travel, Sleep, Wake up, Practice, Perform. Repeat.

Olivier Messiaen's organ

A necessary pilgrimage for any keyboardist - Olivier Messiaen's organ at Église de la Sainte-Trinité.

But touring with the LA Phil is anything but that. Each day brings forth new sounds, new smells, new sights, and an air of exuberance for the new city to be faced.

Bringing It All Back Home – Lionel in Paris

February 2, 2011 | Posted by Lionel Bringuier in Paris

Bonjour et Bienvenue à Paris!!!

Salle Pleyel

Salle Pleyel, where the LA Phil played its two concerts in Paris, and where LA Phil Associate Conductor Lionel Bringuier grew up going to concerts while studying at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris.

I’m really excited to be here with the orchestra! Four years ago I came from Paris to Los Angeles and was hired by the orchestra as Assistant Conductor. Later on that season, I happened to be in Paris during their tour in November 2007, and was incredibly happy to see my new family on stage in Salle Pleyel. Now, it is with much joy that I am here again with the orchestra as Associate Conductor and to see them perform on this stage.

Ah, Paris – C’est Magnifique!

February 1, 2011 | Posted by Michele Grego in Paris

Bonjour from Paris! This is day 14 of our 20 days away from Los Angeles. For those of us who have been in the orchestra for several years, there is a familiarity with performing in this city.

LA Phil rehearses

The LA Phil rehearses at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.

In 1996, the year I joined the orchestra, we had a one-month residency which reignited the push to build Walt Disney Concert Hall. We performed the Rite of Spring with Esa-Pekka and the Paris audience absolutely loved it. The Rite went on to become one of our signature pieces, which we later performed for the opening concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

In 2007 we played at the Salle Pleyel and stayed in the same hotel as we are currently in. We performed the Sibelius symphonies with Esa-Pekka.

Trailing Spouses

January 31, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth Baker in Paris

Toby, my husband, has just arrived in Paris for the remainder of our tour. He refers to himself as the "trailing spouse" - those husbands, wives, partners, and significant others who accompany orchestra members during tours. They have the advantage of enjoying all the sights, sounds, and tastes of the cities we travel to, but without the added responsibilities of performing. We have a number of family members with us on this tour; the European cities we are visiting this time are hard to pass up.

The LA Phil arrived in Paris on Saturday and plays its second concert tonight, has a long-awaited free day tomorrow and leaves for Budapest on Wednesday.

The last time Toby was in Paris with me was during the Philharmonic's residency here in 1996. We had been married just 3 years and reveled in the romance of the city.

London Calling

January 31, 2011 | Posted by LA Phil on Tour in London

(Note: This post is by Gretchen Nielsen, the LA Phil's Director of Educational Initiatives. These are her thoughts on a rehearsal led by Gustavo Dudamel for an orchestra of young musicians involved in community music projects in east London, alongside several members of the LA Phil and the LSO. These students participate in programs similar to the LA Phil’s own Youth Orchestra Los Angeles and the El Sistema program in Venezuela.)

I write this post from the Eurostar on the way to Paris…

Gustavo Dudamel
Gustavo demonstrates the technique he wants to see from the young musicians while they play the last movement of Beethtoven's Seventh Symphony.

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