WNYC Celebrates Opening of Walt Disney Hall in L.A. with Two Special Broadcasts
Music | Jul 12, 2010
WNYC will broadcast the inaugural series of concerts from Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, recorded live on October 23, 24, and 25. The three performances will feature the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of music director Esa-Pekka Salonen. Musical highlights include Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and the world premiere of John Adams' "The Dharma at Big Sur." Fred Child and Gail Eichenthal will serve as hosts of the broadcasts, produced by National Public Radio.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, is anticipated to become one of the most recognized architectural landmarks on the West Coast and is described as one of the world's most sophisticated concert halls. The building occupies a 3.6-acre site-a full city block at the intersection of First Street and Grand Avenue in the historic Bunker Hill area of Downtown Los Angeles. The centerpiece of Walt Disney Concert Hall is the 2,265-seat main auditorium where the Los Angeles Philharmonic will present more than 150 concerts per year, beginning in the 2003/2004 season.
Program Details:
Broadcast: Saturday, October 25 at 8pm on 93.9 FM
The first program, recorded Thursday, October 23 features works that highlight the acoustics of the hall, from a solo voice to the full symphony orchestra. Works featured include The Star-Spangled Banner (Dianne Reeves), Ives' "The Unanswered Question," Gabrieli's Canzon septimi toni No. 2; Ligeti's Lux Aeterna; Haydn's famed Symphony No. 103, "Drumroll;" and conclude with the Los Angeles Philharmonic's signature piece, Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring."
Living LA: An Inaugural Gala for Walt Disney Concert Hall
Broadcast: Saturday, November 1 at 8pm on 93.9 FM
Recorded on Friday, October 24, the second program focuses on repertoire from 20th- and 21st-century composers. The highlights of the concert include the world premiere of John Adams' "The Dharma at Big Sur" - a piece co-commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Philharmonic Society of Orange County, as well as "LA Variations," composed and conducted by Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen. Also on the concert is Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto, with Yo-Yo Ma as soloist, and Revueltas' "Latin romp," the highly praised Sensemayá.
Soundstage LA: An Inaugural Gala for Walt Disney Concert Hall
Broadcast: Saturday, November 8 at 8pm on 93.9 FM
Recorded Saturday, October 25, the Los Angeles Philharmonic turns its attention to its home city, celebrating Hollywood not as a geographic location but as a creative state of mind. The rich history of symphonic music in cinema includes greats from the past and present. Composer/conductor John Williams shares the podium with Salonen for this evening, complete with a world premiere by Williams, commissioned by the Philharmonic for the opening of the hall.
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