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GREAT PERFORMANCES: THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC INAUGURATES WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL (TV)

Summary

One in this series on the performing arts, presented under the umbrella title of "Great Performances."

The program opens with host Jodie Foster, presiding at the fall 2003 opening of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, which will serve as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. As celebrities like Sidney Poitier, Candice Bergen, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening enter the hall, Foster explains that there will be three inaugual performances. In the first, "Sonic L.A.." musical director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the orchestra through Igor Stravinsky's "The Rites of Spring," including part one, "Adoration of the Earth," and part two, "The Sacrifice." The second evening's performance is called "Living L.A.," which includes Witold Lutoslawski's "Cello Concerto" finale, with cellist Yo-Yo Ma as the soloist, and the world premiere of John Adams's "The Dharma at Big Sur," with violinist Tracy Silverman as the soloist.

The final evening, "Soundstage L.A.," is an homage to Hollywood's symphonic film composers. Director Steven Spielberg introduces conductor John Williams, who performs the world premiere of his piece, "Soundings." Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones introduces Brian Stokes Mitchell, who sings the title song of 1944's "Laura," after which Josh Groban sings the title song to 1957's "An Affair to Remember." Audra McDonald performs a lesser-known work, "10,432 Sheep," from 1950's "The West Point Story." Tom Hanks introduces the orchestra's selections from Bernard Herrmann's 1958 "Vertigo" score, with Alfred Newman's 1962 "How the West Was Won" theme serving as the finale.

Interspersed throughout the program is footage of the building's 16-year construction, as well as an interview with architect Frank O. Gehry, who tells how his designs were meant to look like the sails of a ship. The show concludes with a fireworks display around the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Details

  • NETWORK: PBS
  • DATE: October 29, 2003 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:23:50
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:87164
  • GENRE: Music
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Conductors (music); Orchestral music; Vocal music; Architecture, American; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
  • SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976-
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Jac Venza … Executive Producer
  • Wayne Baruch … Executive Producer
  • Charles F. Gayton … Executive Producer
  • David Horn … Executive Producer
  • Mona Niemiec … Producer
  • Mitch Owgang … Producer
  • John Walker … Producer
  • Gary Halvorson … Director
  • Jodie Foster … Host
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen … Conductor
  • John Williams … Conductor
  • Josh Groban … Performer
  • Brian Stokes Mitchell … Performer
  • Audra McDonald … Performer
  • Yo-Yo Ma … Performer
  • Tracy Silverman … Performer
  • Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra … Performer
  • John Adams
  • Warren Beatty
  • Annette Bening
  • Candice Bergen
  • Frank O. Gehry
  • Tom Hanks
  • Bernard Herrmann
  • Witold Lutoslawski
  • Alfred Newman
  • Sidney Poitier
  • Steven Spielberg
  • Igor Stravinsky
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones