December 29, 2024
Walt Disney Concert Hall
When Julie asked to see this and I saw that Today Tix had tickets, I thought “why not?” I have bought enough tickets this year to qualify for the additional 10% off all orders and they had the weird side balcony tickets available so that’s what I purchased. I was a little surprised to learn this wasn’t an LA Phil show as the program noted it’s an Attila Glatz Concert Production. Who knew?
The traffic gods were on my side and I made it there with plenty of time to spare. I was early enough to try the Lower Grand entrance. Google Maps directs you off the 110 at 4th and then onto Lower Grand, but wants you to turn left on Kosciuszko Way, right on Hope, right on 2nd and then left into WDCH parking. Since I have a kid who spent a few years at Colburn, I had seen the Lower Grand entrance (but it was always closed when I was at Colburn). I figured I would just check it out to see if it was open because it’s an easy U to go back to Kosciuszko if it wasn’t. It was open! And there was only 1 car ahead of me. And to add to the benefit of going in from Lower Grand, you are able to park one level higher than you can if you enter from 2nd. I went down to the usual level anyway, because for the last few events, Julie and I managed to park very near each other. For Once Upon A Mattress, we split up and went back the way we came (as I’ve mentioned – you always want to go back the way you came for the Music Center because it’s so easy to get lost in that parking lot) but as it turned out, we were parked next to each other.
I went up to the lobby and texted Julie to say I was in the same spot at the top of the escalators but then she called me to say that traffic was at an absolute standstill and she was going to park in the Music Center and walk over. The dress code agreed upon was “sparkly” so I knew she was probably wearing uncomfortable shoes, but if anyone can power through that, it’s Julie. She turned out to be wearing these
. It also turned out she was able to park in the building. We entered the door to our section with minutes to spare, but came in behind two people with canes who completely blocked us from getting to our seats as the usher tried to help them. We sat down just as the show started. I have to say the weird side balcony seats were actually really good. We will likely do that again.
The orchestra was conducted by Nir Kabaretti, who is Viennese, with a soprano, Peggy Steiner from Dresden and a tenor, Michael Heim from Vienna and the program was decidedly Viennese as one would hope. Many waltzes and many polkas. Eight dancers from San Diego Ballet performed original choreography for several of the pieces as well. The singing was wonderful, the dancing was wonderful and the orchestra was wonderful. On the way out, Julie commented that it was the best classical concert we’ve been to. I’m not sure if it was the best, but it was certainly one of the best!