The final totals for 2025: 32 music concerts, 12 theatrical productions and 3 “other” events.
When I got my Spotify “Wrapped” it said I listened to 203 different genres. It may be a few less for shows I saw, but the diversity is still pretty amazing: orchestral, dixieland, show tunes, opera, American, bluegrass, R&B, latin, funk, easy listening, alternative, indie folk, 80’s pop, classic rock, movie scores, soul, new wave, Chicano rock, country AND western, smooth jazz, Gregorian chant, big band, MOR, heavy metal, punk, 50’s, organ, brass, experimental…and how do you even classify the whistler? There were so many great shows too. I managed to see Beck twice this year – once at Pacific Amphitheater for his orchestral summer tour, and once singing with Rufus and Martha Wainwright. I made 14 trips to the Hollywood Bowl for several classical nights, smooth summer jazz, Rhiannon Giddens, Juanes, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, The Who, Devo and the B-52s plus the special I Love LA show in honor of Eaton and Palisades fire victims and first responders which featured Yo Yo Ma, Gerald Clayton and Christina Aguilera. I had my first outings to Segerstrom Concert Hall for Das Rheingold and Cathedrals of sound (both with free tickets scored from my local Buy Nothing group), my first time at the Saban Theater for the Wainwright show, and my first outing to Honda Center for Heart and Cheap Trick (with free tickets scored by my cousin). We saw some old favorite holiday shows – Westminster Brass and Salute to Vienna, and made some new favorites with Jane Lynch and El Vez.
We saw a few world premiere theatrical productions – Fake It Until You Make It at the Mark Taper and The Camp at the JACCC. It was a true LA adventure for The Camp too, since I took the Metro to get there and back. Two standouts at the Ahmanson were Parade and Life of Pi. Each of those could have gone so wrong, but just went so right! The true standout though, was Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl. I have seen JCSS many times, but never like this. Just amazing. We are still waiting for the movie to drop. Any bets on Easter Sunday? And for operas, we have just got to learn that even when it’s “In Concert” or “Semi-Staged”, LA just can’t do it. Das Rheingold at Segerstrom Concert Hall was lightyears better than Turandot and Disney Concert Hall.
In case you’re wondering, the “other” events were an art exhibit with a “live activation” by the LA Mater Chorale, a movie premiere with a pre-show Q&A, and a “shared reality” hockey game. All three at locations I had not previously been to and all interesting.
We somehow managed (barely) a double header with a matinee in Cerritos followed by an evening at the Hollywood Bowl. I hope to do a better job with my calendar in 2026 so that doesn’t happen again. Seeing a show should be fun, not stressful. One other calendar mishap caused me to miss Ellington’s Nutcracker at Disney Concert Hall. I put it in my calendar as 8 pm on a Friday and it was at 11 am. I’m still a little upset about that, but I will eventually get over it. I’ve already got tickets to several shows in 2026 thanks to the LA Phil’s friends and family sale and the Today Tix Black Friday sale, so it’s shaping up to be a good year!