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  • Gustavo Dudamel Takes the Helm As the Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director in His Inaugural Gala Celebration at Walt Disney Concert Hall
  • Oct. 8, 2009
  • The LA Phil’s 2009/10 Sold-Out Season Opener Featured the World Premiere of John Adams’ City Noir

    Evening Was Broadcast Live on KUSC and NPR.org and Taped for International PBS Telecast and DVD Release

    The Gustavo Dudamel Inaugural Gala was made possible with the Proud Support of Rolex, the Official Timepiece of the Los Angeles Philharmonic

    Additional support for the Inaugural Concert was provided by The James Irvine Foundation

    This concert was simulcast live on the Music Center Plaza, and recorded for delayed national and international telecast. The national telecast on PBS is being produced by Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images, Thirteen for WNET.org and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as part of public television’s performing arts series Great Performances

    Proceeds support the LA Phil and its education programs, including YOLA (Youth Orchestra LA). The Los Angeles Philharmonic generously donated its services for this concert.

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic officially launched its 2009/10 season as new Music Director Gustavo Dudamel took the reins for his Inaugural Concert and Gala at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Thursday, October 8. Before a sold-out audience, the much-heralded Dudamel, the 90-year-old orchestra’s 11th Music Director, led the LA Phil in a program featuring the world premiere of LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams’ City Noir and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major. The evening was simulcast live for a crowd of 3,000 on the Music Center Plaza, broadcast live on Classical KUSC FM 91.5 and NPR.org, and taped for international and national PBS telecast and DVD release.

    A contemporary and truly pan-Latin theme was carried out throughout the Gala venue, beginning with a “hot pink” – rather than red – carpet walk at the foot of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Similar vibrant, electric colors were in evidence throughout the event, designed by Gai Klass Productions.

    The evening began with the arrival of guests, including Andy Garcia who served as host of the PBS broadcast, Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance, Sophia Bush, Dana Delaney, Jenna Elfman, Rachel Griffiths, Don Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Quincy Jones, Eriq La Salle, Luke McFarlane, Sidney Poitier, Jason Schwartzman and William Shatner, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Los Angeles County Supervisors Gloria Molina and Zev Yaroslavsky, among other distinguished attendees. Gustavo Dudamel’s wife, Eloísa Maturén also walked the “hot pink” carpet, accompanied by LA Phil Board Chair David Bohnett. Ms. Maturén wore a strapless column gown with a full A-line overlaid skirt with asymmetrical bias edged hem and finished with a small train, created especially for the evening by Venezuelan designer Angel Sanchez. The vivid amber silk and linen blend of the gown was accented by Ms. Maturén’s jewels, designed by Michelle Ong for Carnet – a pair of Icicle earrings – white diamonds in 18K white gold – and two cuffs of rose cut diamonds mounted in platinum from the Organdy collection.

    Gala guests enjoyed intimate reception offerings of hors d’oeuvres created by Joachim Splichal of The Patina Group and cocktails created by Patina Catering. In keeping with the Latin theme of the evening, the hors d’oeuvres options included cachucha (mini cheese-filled peppers), crispy cones filled with chicken, pickled onions and cilantro cream, soft corn blinis with chorizo and queso fresco and Venezuelan beef short rib bites on skewers. Wine was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards. Pre-concert entertainment featured a flamenco guitar quartet and a Brazilian bossa nova trio.

    The concert opened with City Noir, a piece described by composer Adams as “…a symphony inspired by the peculiar ambience and mood of Los Angeles’ ‘noir’ films, especially those produced in the late forties and early fifties. My music is an homage not necessarily to the film music of that period but rather to the overall aesthetic of the era.”

    Following the well-received Adams’ work, Gala patrons were invited to enjoy Mumm Napa sparkling wine during intermission before settling in to enjoy Mahler’s First Symphony. The final bows following the Mahler were accompanied by a confetti drop of shiny pink and silver mylar branded with “Gustavo Duamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic: The Inaugural Concert, Oct. 8, 2009.”

    Following the concert, guests descended the stairs to the Grand Avenue sidewalk to continue the night’s festivities. The post-concert reception featured “Pasión,” a fizzy cocktail of rum, pineapple and coconut juice with a grenadine sinker, created by Patina for the evening. Guests enjoyed mini arepas – native Venezuelan bread stuffed with shredded beef and spoonfuls of local yellowtail with white fig and toasted cocoa nibs, while being entertained by capoeira dancers and traditional Latin drummers.

    Inside the dinner venue on Grand Avenue, which was closed for the evening, guests were greeted by the sight of a cobble-stoned Latin square, surrounded by brightly painted buildings and tropical flora, designed by TFS Studio, while “Impulse,” a bilingual dance band, played a variety of music.

    Under open skies on the crisp downtown Los Angeles evening with Walt Disney Concert Hall spectacularly lit by Images by Lighting in transitioning colors, Gala patrons feasted on a meal created personally by Splichal of The Patina Group. The dinner menu began with Camarones Asado al Piquante (prawns and a stuffed piquillo pepper) followed by Chimichurri Lomita Filet of Beef and ended with a Torta de Queso with Cinnamon, a pan-American dessert favorite. Dinner wine was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards.

    During dinner, guests were treated to brief remarks from LA Phil President Deborah Borda and Board Chair David Bohnett before Dudamel took the stage to express his appreciation for his new LA Phil family and the special evening.

    The evening’s entertainment culminated with a Carnaval-inspired aerial program which delighted and thrilled the guests. The production was created by Airealistic.

    All proceeds support the education programs of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, including YOLA, the signature program of Gustavo Dudamel.

    The gala committee for the 2009 Los Angeles Philharmonic benefit at Walt Disney Concert Hall includes Gala Chair David C. Bohnett; Allen Brill, Margaret Eberhardt, Kimberly Marteau Emerson, Lenore Greenberg, Joan Hotchkis, Sherry Lansing, Ginny Mancini, Merle Mullin, Jane Nathanson, Carolyn Powers, Carla Sands, Elizabeth Segerstrom and Alyce Williamson.

    The Gala concert was made possible with the proud support of Rolex, the Official Timepiece of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

    City Noir was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic specifically for the evening with generous underwriting from Lenore and Bernard Greenberg; the work was co-commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra in association with Cité de la Musique-Salle Pleyel; The Eduard van Beinum Foundation at the request of the ZaterdagMatinee, the Dutch Radio Concert Series in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam; and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

    The national PBS telecast of the Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic: The Inaugural Concert is being produced by Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images, Thirteen for WNET.org, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the award-winning public television performing arts series Great Performances. The program will be broadcast Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. throughout Southern and Central California on PBS member station KCET (check local listings for complete schedule information). The European telecast is a co-production of Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images, ARTE/ZDF, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and will be broadcast October 18. For additional broadcast information, see the Editorial Notes.

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable locations anywhere to experience music – Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association’s involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational concerts, children's programming and community concerts, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

    Rolex, with its headquarters in Geneva, is one of the world’s foremost watchmakers, with an unrivalled reputation for quality craftsmanship. Since its inception in 1905, the privately owned company has introduced a series of revolutionary innovations, starting with the first truly waterproof watch, the Oyster, in 1926 and the first self-winding watch in 1931. Since 1927, Rolex has been associated with the quest for excellence, when it placed a Rolex Oyster on the wrist of a young swimmer, Mercedes Gleitze, as she swam across the English Channel. Then in 1953, Rolex was present during the first successful ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary. In keeping with its long tradition of encouraging individual excellence and the pursuit of perfection, Rolex makes a particular contribution to the arts world through its various sponsoring activities. For decades, Rolex has forged relationships with many of the world’s cultural icons, legendary institutions and most prestigious events. Currently Rolex is present at more than 150 events in the areas of culture and the arts, plus sports activities including golf, yachting, tennis, equestrian events, and select motorsports, as well as philanthropic awards programs. Celebrating its commitment to extraordinary artistry, Rolex is proud to sponsor the Gustavo Dudamel Inaugural Gala at the world-renowned Walt Disney Concert Hall, on Thursday, October 8, 2009. This distinguished timepiece is treasured by individuals in all lifestyles. Sports enthusiasts value its ruggedness, explorers depend on its reliability, many are drawn to its sophisticated movements, and some simply value its classic elegance. Rolex has become the symbol of life’s crowning achievements.

    About WNET.org

    New York Public Media Company WNET.org is a pioneering provider of television and web content. The parent of Thirteen, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.org brings such acclaimed broadcast series and Web sites as Great Performances, Worldfocus, Nature, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Visions, Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack, Wild Chronicles, Miffy and Friends, and Cyberchase to national and international audiences. Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET.org serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts, and innovative educational and cultural projects. In all that it does, WNET.org pursues a single, overarching goal – to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America, and the world. For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009, AT 7 PM

    Walt Disney Concert Hall,

    111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

    THE INAUGURAL CONCERT

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    GUSTAVO DUDAMEL, conductor

    ADAMS City Noir (world premiere; LAPA commission)

    MAHLER Symphony No. 1in D major

    6 PM Pre-concert receptions in BP Hall and the Founders’ Room

    7 PM Concert

    9 PM Dinner and dancing

    The Gustavo Dudamel Inaugural Gala was made possible with the proud support by Rolex, the Official
    Timepiece of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

    Additional support for the Inaugural Concert was provided by The James Irvine Foundation.



    Broadcast Information

    The concert was simulcast live on the Music Center Plaza.


    The live local radio broadcast on Classical KUSC, 91.5 FM will be re-aired October 11 (check local listings for time). Additionally, the broadcast has a 7-day archived on-demand non-downloadable streaming on www.kusc.org from October 8-15.


    The live webcast (audio only) on NPR (www.npr.com) has a 10-day archived on-demand non-downloadable streaming from October 8-18. Also accessible at www.kusc.org.


    Minnesota Public Radio broadcast the concert live.


    The live radio broadcast on WFMT Chicago, 98.7 FM will not be archived.


    WNYC will broadcast the program October 12, at 8 p.m. EDT.


    National television broadcast in HD on PBS Great Performances, in the U.S. on October 21, at 8 p.m. and in Europe on Arte (France and Germany) on October18. Please check local listings.


    Additional television broadcasts (dates and times TBA):


    Film and Arts (Argentina)

    Sky Arts (United Kingdom)

    NHK (Japan)

    YLE (Finland)

    NRK (Norway)

    KYKNET (Angola, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi)

    DirecTV Latin America (Latin America)

    DVD including the telecast available on Deutsche Grammophon November 23.

    Deutsche Grammophon release of audio of Mahler 1 for exclusive download on iTunes, available on October 20.

    Delayed national radio broadcast on SymphonyCast October 12-18 (stations across the U.S.) with archived on-demand non-downloadable streaming on www.SymphonyCast.org from October 12-18.

    Delayed Performances Today radio broadcast, performance excerpt only (tbc), on October 12.

    Delayed radio broadcast on Classic FM (UK only), Mahler only, on October 31, 3 p.m. GMT with 7- day archive.

    Proceeds support the LA Phil and its education programs, including YOLA (Youth Orchestra LA). The Los Angeles Philharmonic is generously donating its services for this concert.

    # # #

  • Contact:

    Sophie Jefferies, sjefferies@laphil.org, 213.972.3422; Lisa White, lwhite@laphil.org, 213.972.3408; Photos: 213.972.3034