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The opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, in the fall of 2003 is a landmark event in the city of Los Angeles. America's newest architectural wonder and a symbol of renewal for downtown L.A., the hall will be the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. GREAT PERFORMANCES showcases highlights from three consecutive evenings of gala performances comprising the grand opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall, with Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen leading the orchestra in Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" ("The Rite of Spring"), Witold Lutoslawski's cello concerto, and the world premieres of works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams and Hollywood legend John Williams. With special guests Audra McDonald, Yo-Yo Ma, Josh Groban, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the program also includes selections from the rich tradition of symphonic music in Hollywood cinema led by Salonen and Williams.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, the dazzling residence of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the fourth in its history, is the centerpiece of a 3.6-acre complex that includes two outdoor amphitheaters, a separate multi-use theater and art gallery, and an expansive public garden. The aim was to design a hall whose acoustics would rival or surpass that of the best concert halls in the world. Learn how the architectural elements of the new hall affect its acoustics through an audio slide show in the Multimedia Presentation. (The free RealPlayer plug-in is required.) Read writer Alan Rich's essay about some of the key individuals who helped shape the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its founding in 1919, and his interview with the orchestra's music director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, who talks about his initial impressions of the new hall and how it sounds in Dialogue.
Top banner photos: Interior, exterior, and sketch of the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by architect Frank Gehry. (Photo credit from left to right: Federico Zignani, David Miller, and Gehry Partners/Los Angeles Philharmonic.) |
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This program marks the Los Angeles Philharmonic's debut on GREAT PERFORMANCES. (Photo by Mathew Imaging/Los Angeles Philharmonic.) |
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The pipe organ is located behind the stage between two sections of the audience area. (Photo by Federico Zignani/Los Angeles Philharmonic.) |
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This program is not available on VHS or DVD. |
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