The Inaugural Concert - An Insider’s Outside Perspective
It’s not every day that I bring a blanket, Ugg boots, mittens, and stadium chairs to work with me, but yesterday I did, because I was one of the lucky recipients of a ticket to the Music Center Celebrates Dudamel—an outdoor simulcast of the The Inaugural Concert: Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in front of the Dorothy Chandler.
As 5:00 came, I could see Brian Lauritzen and Gail Eichenthal in their offices, hunched over their computers, prepping for KUSC’s live broadcast of the LA Phil’s Opening night. With my supplies in tow, I headed toward Disney Hall. The closer I got, the fancier the dress of those around me became, until I was standing across the street from the venue. And what had previously been Grand Ave between 2nd and 1st Streets was now the technicolor patio of a Venezuelan nightclub, or so I assumed, having never been to Venezuela.
I popped into the Disney Hall store, where a pair of older women were receiving counsel from an employee on Dudamel recordings. “That one is just a compilation,” said the employee, “THIS… this is the CD that you want.” The women reached for the CD to which the employee was pointing, faces consumed with wonder. The cashier told another set of customers that he heard there would be tightrope walkers at the post-party.
At the entrance to Disney Hall, I passed a hot pink carpet, across which gorgeous gowns and well tailored suits passed on their way into the event.
Across the street and up the music center stairs, there was a gathering of a more casual, but no less excited nature. If there is one thing I have learned over my ten years in Los Angeles, it is that Angelenos know how to enjoy an outdoor event. Spread over the music center plaza were lovely collections of blankets, cushions and pillows, upon which my fellow ticket holders were chatting and enjoying picnics. I settled into an open spot and spread my blanket as the group next to me lit lanterns. It was as diverse a group as I have ever seen at a LA Phil event and when Dudamel strode onto the plaza’s big screen, he got a round of applause befitting Dudamania. Then he lifted his baton and I settled back into my chair, ready to hear the sound of my city from what felt like the very middle of it.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
wow….vivid, colorful, clever writing. I feel like I was there myself! I’d like to read more from this young writer.
October 12th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
It would have been nice to have been there. Thank you for the description