Hollywood Bowl: A sneak peek at the 2009 season
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You didn’t hear it from Culture Monster:
The Los Angeles Philharmonic does not plan to officially announce its 2009 Hollywood Bowl season until March 16 -- but it’s a little hard to keep a secret when a partial schedule has already been mailed to more than 10,000 subscribers and is readily available on the Bowl website.
A perk of being one of those subscribers is that you get to buy series tickets before the crowd, hence the early notification. Subscribers can begin purchasing series tickets now, and new subscriptions are also being accepted. For both subscribers and nonsubscribers, single tickets will go on sale May 2.
But even if you don’t have that early ticket perk, an early peek reveals a program that includes a high-powered international list of instrumental soloists in concert with the philharmonic; some unexpected classical collaborations; some hip visitations from the pop world; and several massive and/or daring musical choices....
Among the pianists scheduled to perform with the philharmonic this season are the Russian Vladimir Feltsman, young Briton Paul Lewis and the Finnish Juho Pohjonen, who will include on his program Esa-Pekka Salonen’s difficult Piano Concerto.
On the massive and daring side: a September concert that will include Australian-born Percy Grainger’s wild and wacky ‘The Warriors, Music to an Imaginary Ballet,’ which hasn’t been performed at the Bowl since the composer conducted the work in 1921; the Philip Glass Ensemble accompanying Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 wordless film ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ in a new arrangement of Glass’ score for the ensemble and orchestra; and tenor James Taylor with the Los Angeles Master Chorale in the rarely performed Berlioz Requiem, conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Unusual superstar pairings: pianists Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang, and Plácido Domingo conducting cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Also, soprano Jessye Norman (left) will collaborate with composer Laura Karpman to present an evening of music inspired by Langston Hughes’ epic poem ‘Ask Your Mama.’
From the opera world, the Phil and the Pacific Chorale will team up to present ‘Porgy and Bess,’ conducted by Tovey.
This year’s Broadway offering is ‘Guys and Dolls’ in concert, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and choreographed by Donna McKechnie, with Kevin Stites conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
From the pop world: Grammy-nominated British singer Adele, Nigerian Afrobeat star Femi Kuti and Seattle indie-rock band Death Cab for Cutie with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
-- Diane Haithman
Evan Agostini / Associated Press (Norman).