Malibu music fans are hitting the streets of downtown Los Angeles to enjoy the exciting, new seasons at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Walt Disney Concert Hall. In keeping with tradition, the Los Angeles Philharmonic pulled out all the stops for the 2015-16 season.
Opening night at Walt Disney Concert Hall drew an impressive local crowd with dame Julie Andrews, music fan Ginny Mancini, Los Angeles Opera supporters Marc and Eva Stern, and Eli and Edye Broad making up the community contingent.
They were joined by Philharmonic President and CEO Deborah Borda, Creative Chair John Adams and jazz leader Herbie Handcock, as well as other superstars in the world of arts, architecture and industry, including Frank Gehry, Oscar winner Hilary Swank, award-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Michael Eisner and Kate Burton.
This season at the Phil is impressive indeed with Gustavo “The Dude” Dudamel leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela for a spectacular opening night and an all Beethoven program.
The Sterns have been busy with this year’s music calendar. “Beethoven in one of my top three,” Marc Stern told Malibu Seen.
“I’m more of an opera guy,” he confided, “but I wouldn’t miss this.”
Gussied-up guests followed the red carpet to BP hall where they sipped a bit of bubbly and snacked on salmon canapés, bites of burrata and even octopus. They were entertained by a special performance by members of the L.A. Phil and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, led by Joshua Dos Santos, playing Beethoven’s “Eleven Viennese Dances.” The lively sounds were accompanied by waltzing dancers.
The fashion front ranged the spectrum with lots of floaty chiffon, embellished gowns and opera gloves. The guys primarily went with classic white ties. Soon it was show time and the Dude took the stage telling fans, “We have this beautiful gala to kick off the season. But this is very special because I have my two symphonies.” (The Dude is a proud native of Venezuela.) “The Brilliance of Beethoven” is this year’s philharmonic theme.
The concert featured excerpts from two dramatic works, “Egmont” and “The Creatures of Prometheus” — two pieces not found elsewhere in the festival programming. It wrapped up with the popular classical favorite “Ode to Joy” from “Symphony No. 9.” The Los Angeles Master Chorale filled the top tiers of the auditorium. The sound of dozens of voices rising up all at the same time was enough to send chills down your spine. The program ended with a standing ovation and, as usual, a blizzard of confetti.
The main event may have been over, but these enthusiastic Phil fans were just getting started. They made their way to a tented party palace set up on Grand Avenue where they were greeted by human silver statues. Inside, the tables were dressed with green brocade cloths, silver Chivari chairs, and vessels heaving with blush and white roses surrounded by Maidenhair ferns. As the music played on, they tucked into a yummy dinner of compressed salad of potatoes, root veggies and smoked salmon. With Patina’s celebrity chefs in charge, there was no rubber chicken here, but instead, a delectable surprise, old world wiener schnitzel with creamy spinach and elderflower cranberry spatzle. It was all washed down with Chloe Pinot Noir and topped off with pear plum cake.
Sweetest of all — the opening night gala “The Brilliance of Beethoven” raised more than $3.5 million for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s many music education programs, which serve more than 150,000 youths, families and teachers every year. Bravo, and look for a great season of music!