John Williams, Gustavo Dudamel and Anne-Sophie Mutter at LA Phil's Annual Gala Concert - Sept. 27, 2022

[Ricard 2,257]

This was announced earlier this month:

 

Quote

Launching the 2022/23 season with the LA Phil’s Annual Gala Concert, Gustavo Dudamel shares his conducting podium with his close friend and inspiration John Williams in a night celebrating the legendary composer and LA Phil family member’s 90th birthday. Joined by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Williams opens the evening conducting the orchestra in his Second Violin Concerto. Dudamel leads the second half in a selection of Williams’ beloved film scores.

 

Gala tickets available in late spring. For more information, please contact Special Events at gala@laphil.org or 213 972 3051.

 

 

https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1775/2022-09-27/gala-john-williams-celebration

 

[BB-8 3,936]

[Jay 39,428]

Ooooh too bad it wasn't closer to the Hollywood Bowl dates, would be a nice trip to see both

[Davis 2,895]

51 minutes ago, Ricard said:

This was announced earlier this month:

 

 

https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1775/2022-09-27/gala-john-williams-celebration

 

And the concerts just keep on coming. Amazing.

[BB-8 3,936]

58 minutes ago, JTW said:

And the concerts just keep on coming. Amazing.

 

So do the cookies.

 

[Davis 2,895]

Let's hope it will be recorded for a future Blu-ray release. 

[Bayesian 1,433]

I would really like to attend this, not least because I've never seen the LA Phil's concert hall in person. But you have to be a member before you can buy tickets and I'm not sure I want to do that without knowing my chances of getting tickets. (Otherwise, I'd do better to just support my local major orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony.)

 

Anyone buy tickets to this yet and can tell us whether there are any seats left, or how they're going to sell them?

[atmicwedgy 50]

Public tickets went live today:

https://my.laphil.com/en/syos2/performance/7628

[atmicwedgy 50]

So - who is going to this? 

I purchased seats - but have since let the missus sample the Violin Concerto and - despite only listening to a small portion - she was not very impressed with it.  I am still re-listening to it to become more familiar with it - but will likely defer to her if we actually go. 

It would definitely help if Otium restaurant around the corner was open on Tuesdays!

 

I guess a follow-up question is dress-code.  There's a gala portion (which is not included with our tickets) which indicates black-tie optional.  The Walt Disney Concert Hall indicates on their site that people should wear whatever makes them comfortable (even casual wear), but would that apply to this event?  With the hot weather coming back and temps in high-90s, I am more reluctant to dress up any.  

[Tom 5,137]

29 minutes ago, atmicwedgy said:

So - who is going to this? 

I purchased seats - but have since let the missus sample the Violin Concerto and - despite only listening to a small portion - she was not very impressed with it.  I am still re-listening to it to become more familiar with it - but will likely defer to her if we actually go. 

It would definitely help if Otium restaurant around the corner was open on Tuesdays!

 

I guess a follow-up question is dress-code.  There's a gala portion (which is not included with our tickets) which indicates black-tie optional.  The Walt Disney Concert Hall indicates on their site that people should wear whatever makes them comfortable (even casual wear), but would that apply to this event?  With the hot weather coming back and temps in high-90s, I am more reluctant to dress up any.  

Go to the concert.  Have the missus check out the bar during the concerto and enjoy the rest of the concert.  

[ObiWanKenobi2017 1]

Hi I havent had chance to attend a JW concert yet. I am contemplating whether to visit LA next week given tickets are still available. Aside from the list of music will be performed (eg Concerto No.2 and Princess Leia etc), does anyone know whether he is likely to perform other SW music based on your experience? Perhaps during encore? Love all his music even just really hoping to hear Imperial March live. Thanks 

[DangerMotif 1,101]

The imperial march is pretty much a guarantee to be played at the encore.

[pete 970]

Another birthday party??

[karelm 3,076]

3 hours ago, ObiWanKenobi2017 said:

Hi I havent had chance to attend a JW concert yet. I am contemplating whether to visit LA next week given tickets are still available. Aside from the list of music will be performed (eg Concerto No.2 and Princess Leia etc), does anyone know whether he is likely to perform other SW music based on your experience? Perhaps during encore? Love all his music even just really hoping to hear Imperial March live. Thanks 

Oh do it!  The Maestro isn't getting any younger!  I have so many personal memories around JW and non are regretted.   The first time I saw him in concert was in the mid 1990's and I still remember it as a major deal.  

[Tom 5,137]

Yes, go see him.  I was listening to the concerto today.  Yes, it does not sound (for the most part) like his film music, but, damn, there are some great moments even for the causal listener.  

[Will 2,235]

Interesting that Just Down West Street is on the program despite this concert not being at Tanglewood!

[Steve 618]

Don't care about Imperial Match too much. Just to be in the same room with Williams feels magical. So if you get the chance be there!

[BB-8 3,936]

[Marian Schedenig 9,042]

Ray, when someone asks if you're a want to see a god live in concert, you say yes!

[ObiWanKenobi2017 1]

Thanks guys! It looks like he will conduct the Concerto No. 2 only. But hopefully he will come back for the encore. 

[karelm 3,076]

On 24/09/2022 at 11:07 AM, ObiWanKenobi2017 said:

Thanks guys! It looks like he will conduct the Concerto No. 2 only. But hopefully he will come back for the encore. 

 

When I attended the LA Phil tribute concert conducted by Dudamel, he sat in the front row the whole time.  Then came to conduct one or two encores or so but it was fun just watching his reactions to the music and thunderous applause even if he wasn't the conductor.  Who knows, maybe you'll end up sitting next to him.

[Tom 5,137]

40 minutes ago, karelm said:

 

When I attended the LA Phil tribute concert conducted by Dudamel, he sat in the front row the whole time.  Then came to conduct one or two encores or so but it was fun just watching his reactions to the music and thunderous applause even if he wasn't the conductor.  Who knows, maybe you'll end up sitting next to him.

At which point you can say to him.  "Sir, would you mind keeping it down."  

[karelm 3,076]

9 hours ago, Tom said:

At which point you can say to him.  "Sir, would you mind keeping it down."  

A friend bumped in to Johnny during intermission of an LA Phil concert in the bathroom.  Imagine the awkward urinal conversation.   Famous people I've peed next to: Robin Williams, Julie Andrews, Stephen Dorff (the vampire king in Blade).  Julie Andrews was that I was waiting for a friend to come out of the men's room when Dame Julie Andrews emerged from the lady's room and I said habana-habana.  Each time I was "what the?!?!". Robin Williams was at a restaurant before a movie.  What I remember most about him and I let his kids know was as he ate near me, anytime a fan approached, he said "Sorry, I'm with my kids" as he was not in work mode but family mode as a sign of how he valued family over work.  I thought it was sweet that he prioritized his family over his fans and was totally human.  Just a dad.  Not famous.  This was maybe around 2005.

[Tom 5,137]

I would have assumed there would be private bathrooms for conductors/performers.  I guess Williams is a man of the people.  

 

I think I would stay quiet at the urinal but then nervously say hi while washing hands.  

[Marian Schedenig 9,042]

Now I'm surprised (and relieved) that nobody has posted a pic of his… baton yet.

[BB-8 3,936]

7 hours ago, Tom said:

I would have assumed there would be private bathrooms for conductors/performers.  I guess Williams is a man of the people.  

 

I think I would stay quiet at the urinal but then nervously say hi while washing hands.  

I would probably remain inactive with excitement and let not a single drop.

 

26 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Now I'm surprised (and relieved) that nobody has posted a pic of his… baton yet.

...or asked "Did you compose the score to Free Willy?".

[karelm 3,076]

21 hours ago, Tom said:

I would have assumed there would be private bathrooms for conductors/performers.  I guess Williams is a man of the people.  

 

I think I would stay quiet at the urinal but then nervously say hi while washing hands.  

 

I failed to mention he was an audience member, not a conductor.  I think the occasion was a gala concert or Dudamel's first season, maybe Salonen's last concert - Tom Hanks and wife were in the audience too.  I forgot what the occasion was but there were VIPs in the audience.  I'm sure JW could have gone backstage if he needed to but was just a regular joe.

[atmicwedgy 50]

Encores were:

Schindler's List

A New Hope theme 

[BB-8 3,936]

4 hours ago, atmicwedgy said:

Encores were:

Schindler's List

A New Hope theme 

A New Hope theme?

[BB-8 3,936]

[Tom 5,137]

I heard that the entire concert was hideous.   

[karelm 3,076]

Detailed report please...

[Muad'Dib 1,863]

3 minutes ago, Tom said:

I heard that the entire concert was hideous.   

 

Alan Rickman liked this.

[BB-8 3,936]

ASM (@anne_sophie_mutter) • Instagram-Fotos und -Videos

 

[atmicwedgy 50]

7 hours ago, BB-8 said:

A New Hope theme?

Mea culpa.  Ya, couldn't quite remember at the time what the piece was called, (Disney officially designating the movie as 'Star Wars: A New Hope' didn't help my brain any).
It occurred to me that I really haven't heard it that often recently.   Instead we usually get the "Throne Room and End Title".  So I was rather happy they included it.

 

Update: 'it' == "Star Wars Main Theme"  (thanks for the reminder BB-8 )

[BB-8 3,936]

1 hour ago, atmicwedgy said:

Mea culpa.  Ya, couldn't quite remember at the time what the piece was called, (Disney officially designating the movie as 'Star Wars: A New Hope' didn't help my brain any).
It occurred to me that I really haven't heard it that often recently.   Instead we usually get the "Thone Room and End Title".  So I was rather happy they included it.

Ah, so you got the Star Wars Main Theme.

 

Update:

I just checked the terminology on the original 1977 vinyl, and it reads "Main Title" while the themes are outlined in a separate text, which even describes a "Ben Kenobi's Theme".

 

1 hour ago, Muad'Dib said:

 

Alan Rickman liked this.

I know, but he's dead.

[Ricard 2,257]

Quote

The West Coast premiere of Williams’ Second Violin Concerto with Mutter and the composer conducting the L.A. Phil was the centerpiece of Tuesday’s gala. Dudamel’s role was to conduct brief excerpts from the film scores and to introduce Williams, whom he called one of the greatest composers of all time, taking a pause to let that sink in and show he meant it.

 

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-09-28/review-john-williams-at-90-and-with-a-new-violin-concerto-is-celebrated-at-l-a-phil-gala

 

 

[BB-8 3,936]

The first Vienna tie.

[Tom 5,137]

I don't get professional criticisms of new music.  The concerto is a challenging piece for both orchestra and listener by design.  If you don't get it, just keep your it to yourself. 

 

Having listened to it multiple times, I think it is Williams's best concert work.  It is structured to take you on a journey and has some really original moments but also enough "classical" elements to firmly place it in the grand tradition of orchestral violin concertos.  

[Disco Stu 15,501]

"Celebrating Williams is, in fact, an industry" got a chuckle from me because it's undeniably true.  Especially over the past decade or so, orchestras and other institutions around the world love to cash in on his popularity with celebratory concerts or awards.  Whether you think this is good or bad is a matter of perspective.  Good for most of us, bad if you're a snobby critic!

 

That said, I was pleased with that article.  It's good for the Los Angeles classical "gatekeepers" to embrace Williams as an icon of their city.

[Tom 5,137]

Yeah, I should probably focus more on the positive than negative.  I do think the violin concerto is the best one written since Barber's.  

[Ricard 2,257]

Quote

“This music is for eternity,” said Dudamel in welcoming remarks at the beginning of the gala concert, which marks the beginning of the LA Philharmonic season at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Noting that he places the composer right up in the musical pantheon with “Mahler, Strauss, Mozart and Bach,” Dudamel said of Williams’ music, “It transcends.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/la-philharmonic-opening-night-gala-john-williams-1235229390/

 

[Tom 5,137]

If one did not know his age, surely they would put him no older than mid 70s.  

[BB-8 3,936]

Dude looks like 60.

[karelm 3,076]

Dude could probably kick my ass if we got into a street fight.

[Pawel P. 738]

I wonder ... Does anyone know if it was filmed? Just like the previous Gala for Williams in the same hall that was released on Blu-ray.

[pete 970]

On 29/09/2022 at 5:30 PM, Ricard said:

 

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-09-28/review-john-williams-at-90-and-with-a-new-violin-concerto-is-celebrated-at-l-a-phil-gala

 

 

"The First Violin Concerto was written in 1996"....big mistake!