Event Coverage by RCR Host, Amy Long
follow her on Twitter @AmyLong1717
A night I will have no problem remembering with the classiest reigning of men of music.
Tuesday, September 27th, the LA Philharmonic opened the 2015 season themed Brilliance of Beethoven with a black tie gala at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. True to Disney fashion there was surely magic.
The view from the red carpet was plenty to write home (and Twitter) about. I found myself in the presence of royalty (photo evidence she doesn’t even have to bring her crown from home, it will find her).
Julie Andrews remains practically perfect in every way even though my heart sank when she told Red Carpet Report she wouldn’t be doing interviews in an effort to preserve her voice. Perhaps she didn’t have enough spoons full of sugar.
New mom, Bryce Dallas Howard, looked stunning and spoke with Red Carpet Report about her lack of instrumental ability and the original Jurassic Park score she will be humming in her head while on set of Jurassic World II. Howard also mentioned she would not complain if her character wore flats in JW2.
Several recognizable smiles attended; Herbie Hancock, Hilary Swank, William Shatner, Matthew Lillard and Mia Maestro, all of whom were so excited to get their fill of the Philharmonic opening season they charged the front doors skipping on-camera interviews.
The man if the hour, Gustavo Dudamel, the musical and artistic director of the LA Phil and conductor of Brilliance of Beethoven, Christoph Waltz who stood as narrator for the Brilliance of Beethoven, other artist and board members graced the carpet celebrating opening night.
Somewhere between watching donors dressed to the nines strike a prom pose on the red carpet and reminiscing on meeting an icon, a security guard tapped my shoulder. Just as I knelt down to refasten my event wristband he offered an orchestra side ticket ‘complements of the conductor, Gustavo’. Wait. What? As in Grammy-winner Gustavo Dudamel? Yes!
In Dudamel’s brief walk on the carpet he must have noticed my need for intellectual, inspiring, and musical stimulation. Yea, that’s the story I’m sticking with. Nothing like an impromptu black tie event to make you rethink your wardrobe choice.
My toothy smile led the way to my seat where I was transported through some of Beethoven’s most colorful work performed by LA Philharmonic and the Simón Bolílvar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. The smallest hum of the clarinets, sharp violins, and booming trombones echoed off the beautiful hardwood-paneled walls engineered to make you feel as if you’re sitting at the conductor’s feet.
Dudamel waving his baton as delicately as a hummingbird’s wings and in a moment as fiercely as Serina swings her tennis racket, his hair simply acting as an extension of the baton. Ballet dancers, opera soloists and a choir joined the orchestra, belting out the many rich notes of Beethoven’s greatest work.
Dudamel took a moment to address the audience and thank those on the stage with him, some of which have been working with him for nearly 20 years. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. Wait, we still are kids.” he said. I sent him my most sincere and grateful smile when his eyes glanced in my direction. Dudamel spoke of the relevance and importance of Beethoven’s work, suggesting the hearty melodies help to build bridges instead of boarders which is something all too common in the present day.
Standing in front of the combined orchestra of LA and Venezuela’s most talented musicians, on this night he was right. Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” closed the event. As the final notes sounded it rained Beethoven confetti over the crowd and brought every audience member, including Julie Andrews and me, to our feet.
Yes, I shamelessly put us side by side in that sentence. I was sitting under the same ceiling listening to the same beautiful sounds with a legend, which made the entire unexpected experience that much sweeter. The roar of the crowd remained until the last performer walked off of the stage.
You too can enjoy one of the most decorated conductors, Gustavo Dudamel during the LA Phil’s Immortal Beethoven festival see the link for details: http://www.laphil.com
