Los Angeles Philharmonic – Walt Disney Concert Hall – May 25, 2025
Neither of us could remember why I bought these tickets. We discussed it a few times but just had no idea. Did I get great seats? Were they just super inexpensive? There had to have been a reason but it was a mystery. With that in mind, I dressed up a little (a lot for me, but not much compared to other people’s standards) and headed off to Walt Disney Concert Hall for a matinee performance entitled “Gershwin & Strauss”. Maps said it would take me 31 minutes when I looked the first time and when the time had increased to 35 minutes, I figured I should get on the road. It turned out to be pretty smooth sailing. I have spent enough time driving to and from Downtown that I sort of know which lane I want to be in when and that helps. Maps INSISTED on taking me off the Freeway at 4th, onto Lower Grand and then left on Kosciuszko to get up to the 2nd Street parking entrance. I ignored it and got in line for the entrance at Lower Grand. There was only one guy working that entrance and it was cash only, but the line moved pretty fast and I was plenty early, so it was fine. Parking was a flat rate of $10. I beat Julie so I spent some time wandering around the LA Phil store. I felt it necessary to “do all the things” in the store so I had to wait a few times for people to move away from stuff like the chimes and the balancing bird. I even had time to smell all the candles. Good times! Julie called to ask if there were 2 parking lots because the line to get in was so long. We later discussed taking the train. I think she’ll do that next time. By the time she’d parked, it was 5 minutes to show time. Once our tickets were scanned, I still took a moment to use the restroom. We managed to get to our seats with a few minutes to spare. Turns out they start LA Phil shows 5 minutes late just like musicals. Who knew? Now we ALL know. As soon as we saw the program Julie went, “Oh, that’s why we bought these tickets!” as she pointed to the Strauss piece. I nodded because at that point I remember her wanting to hear it, but I still had no idea what it was. She knows classical better than I do.
The afternoon opened with a commissioned piece by Caroline Shaw entitled “The Observatory” which the program informed us would last about 16 minutes. It was a rather dramatic piece and I was sure the Observatory she was envisioning was Griffith. It just felt like Griffith Observatory to me. Granted, I don’t really have a memory of going to any other observatories. I couldn’t tell whether she was trying to evoke Centered In The Universe or Water Is Life, but as the piece progressed, I decided it must be Water is Life. I rather enjoyed it. Julie, on the other hand said all the shrillness of the piece made her teeth hurt.
After a bit of moving things around and bringing out the piano, Jean-Yves Thibaudet took the stage and we were treated to Gershwin’s Concerto in F in 4 movements (which the program told us would last approximately 31 minutes). It was very Gershwin – piano and clarinet heavy – and a lovely piece. Jean-Yves was wonderful as always and not surprisingly received a standing ovation. What WAS surprising however, is that he came out for an encore. While the orchestra remained onstage wishing they had managed to make an escape, he took his place once more at the piano. He didn’t have a mic, but it sounded like he said, “Brahms” and then he played. What a treat!
The stage hands were very busy at intermission. Pianos were moved off stage and an organ was moved on stage. Two harps were moved onto the stage as well. TWO! I didn’t even know we had two harpists in Los Angeles! There was a lot of percussion already onstage, some of which was used in the first half but it seemed like there was even more being set up for the second half. There was a giant pillar looking thing behind the timpanis that I couldn’t figure out.
The lights dimmed and the conductor took his place. Then the orchestra launched into Strauss’ “also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30”. First the organ with a low drone and then the trumpets. You know it – it’s the opening number from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Talk about drama! I instantly knew why Julie wanted to come to this show. Lots of bass notes – 2 tubas! I was trying to figure out what the instrument was next to the bassoons. When I googled it after the show, it turned out to be a contrabassoon. Lot’s of kettledrum, lots of bass drum – it was just so heavy. I’m sure it was fun to play. As the piece progressed and the other instruments joined in – strings and the ethereal harps – it was a treat for the audience as well. It would have been a fun one to watch in the orchestra view seats because the percussionists were busy. At one point one of them walked over to the giant pillar thing and gonged on it. So at least now we know what it is. We left happy, but we were both wondering why they didn’t use the pipe organ in this piece. I think we just might have to come back for an organ concerto.