October 16
Oh Marsha Marsha. Marsha invited me to join her on Casual Friday at the Disney Hall to hear Dudamel conduct “Rite of Spring”. Despite the casual appearance of the orchestra it was breathtaking; it took my breath away. You can see only about 2/3 of the enormous orchestra gathered for this piece.
Here are bits from the LA Times review: “We seem so far beyond the age of orchestral scandals that it can take an exercise of imagination to fathom the Paris riot in 1913 at the premiere of “Rite of Spring.” A century later, Stravinsky’s ballet has become more popular than “Scheherazade.”
“The Los Angeles Philharmonic is especially beloved in L.A. for its music making, community involvement, and for bringing us the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Fortunately, the L.A. Phil also happens to be the most clamorous of orchestras in its willingness to take chances and court controversy.