LOCAL EVENTS. GET CONNECTED!

Wagner, Elgar, Beethoven August 31

Young virtuoso Daniel Mueller-Schott (The Daily Telegraph, U.K., raved over his new CD collection) performs Elgar's poignant and passionate masterpiece.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

The Glass Menagerie September 1 thru October 17

One of the greatest American plays finds new light in this critically-lauded re-imagining  of the classic story of a fragile family hanging its hopes on the arrival of a “gentleman  caller.” Two-time  Tony Award®-winner Judith Ivey features in director Gordon  Edelstein's sparkling new production that makes this Menagerie as  fresh and vital and sadly magical as its original 1944 debut. Pictured: Judith Ivey in the Long Wharf Theatre production of The Glass Menagerie. Photo by T Charles Erikson.

• Mark Taper Forum — (213) 628-2772 — www.centertheatregroup.org

 

Herbie Hancock: Seven Decades – The Birthday Celebration September 1

Herbie Hancock, one of the most revered figures in jazz, returns to the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate his 70th birthday with very special guests including Wayne Shorter and others from his eclectic career.  His original style has moved effortlessly through almost every development in acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B throughout his career – absorbing blues, funk, gospel, rock and even modern classical influences along the way.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

 

Earth, Wind & Fire September 3 & 4

Earth, Wind & Fire – One of the greatest R&B groups of all time perform for the first time ever with full orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by Thomas Wilkins. This historical performance shows Earth, Wind & Fire bringing the soul and funk that made them legendary. (September 3 & 4)

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

 

Alexander Gavrylyuk September 7 & 9

Tovey and the orchestra welcome 24-year-old Gavrylyuk making his Hollywood Bowl debut in Tchaikovsky's rarely-heard Second Piano Concerto. Also on the program are Tchaikovsky's Festival Coronation March, Borodin's Polovtsian Dances and Tovey's own Urban Runway, a Los Angeles Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic co-commission. The classical season concludes with the return of Los Angeles' leading dance company Diavolo performing a newly-commissioned world premiere ballet set to LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams' Fearful Symmetries. The program also includes Weber's Invitation to the Dance (orchestrated by Berlioz) and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. • Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

 

Music of the Dance September 9

L.A.'s incredible acrobatic dancers return to perform a newly commissioned work set to the vibrantly rhythmic music of John Adams. Tovey conducts one of the LA Phil's most celebrated showpieces, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Fireworks Finale: Pink Martini September 10 thru 12

A rollicking, around-the-world musical adventure, Portland's Pink Martini returns with their extraordinary blend of French chanson, Argentine tango, soft merengue beats and vintage-chic style, accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Leap of Faith September 11 thru October 24

You'll be dancing in the aisles when con man Jonas Nightingale brings his gospel-charged tent revival to rain-starved Kansas. Four-time Tony Award-nominee Raúl Esparza and Golden Globe Award-nominee Brooke Shields will star in this world premiere Broadway-bound new musical. Based on the movie with Steve Martin, Leap of Faith boasts a brand new score from 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and directed and choreographed by Tony Award®-winner Rob Ashford, helmer of the recent Taper favorite, Parade. When his traveling ministry breaks down in a small Kansas town, part-time reverend and full-time con artist (Esparza) quickly pitches a tent and invites the locals to a revival. The sheriff is determined to stop Jonas from separating the townspeople from their money, but Jonas' real challenge arises when he meets a pretty waitress (Shields) and her son, whose love forces an ultimate cynic to take a real leap of faith. Pictured: Brooke Shields will star with Raul Esparza in the world premiere of the new musical Leap of Faith

• Ahmanson Theatre – (213) 628-2772 — www.centertheatregroup.org

 

¡VIVA MEXICO! With Ozomatli and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles September 19

In honor of two of Mexico's most important national anniversaries – the 200th anniversary of Mexico's Independence and the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution – the Hollywood Bowl celebrates Mexican Music. Multi-culti L.A. heroes Ozomatli return to the Hollywood Bowl with its socially-conscious mash-up of hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, dub, and funk. America's first all-female mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, share their passion for mariachi music with a captivating and expressive performance.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

 

The Phantom of the Opera September 23 thru October 17

For his final overture in Los Angeles, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA returns to the Pantages Theatre to take your breath away. Andrew Lloyd Webber's international award-winning phenomenon directed by Harold Prince has woven its magical spell over standing room audiences in more than 100 cities worldwide and is now the longest running show in Broadway history. Don't miss your last chance to experience this timeless story of seduction and despair and the one show The London Sunday Times called “God's gift to the musical theatre.” Pictured: TIM MARTIN GLEASON as The Phantom. Photo by Joan Marcus

• The Pantages Theatre — (323) 468-1770 — www.broadwayla.org

 

Vampire Weekend, Beach House, The Very Best September 26

New York City's most lovable genre-bending indie-rock band, Vampire Weekend celebrate their success with their Hollywood Bowl debut. Beach House will transport the audience with sweeping and soulful harmonies, and The Very Best open with a fluid mix of African harmonies and indie-dance beats.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

"Notes on Fashion" to benefit New West Symphony League September 30

Join us as we spend a memorable afternoon with friends at the beautiful Lake Sherwood Country Club. While enjoying a lovely sit-down lunch, Neiman Marcus, Topanga will present the latest trends in fashions for the upcoming season. You'll see each outfit up close as models walk by answering any questions you might have. What a wonderful way to plan for the upcoming holidays and 2011. For your listening pleasure, we are very excited to introduce Benjamin Krasner, pianist, a 10-year old prodigy. In 2010 Benjamin was the winner of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival and in 2008 he was the youngest Laureate in the International Young Musician Competition, Lincoln Center, NY. One day you will say "We knew him when..."In addition to these wonderful experiences, we are also offering opportunity drawings for: Neiman Marcus, Topanga - Shopping Spree valued at $1000; Hawaii accommodations at the luxurious Hyatt Maui Resort, Kaanapali. Five night stay. (Air fare not included); Boccaccio's Restaurant of Westlake Village serves a meal to you and three guests on a private boat while cruising the lake; Season Tickets to New West Symphony and more. From 11:30 AM until 3:00 PM.

• Sherwood Country Club 320 West Stafford Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 – (805) 496-3036, ext. #1

 

Pavement, Sonic Youth, No Age September 30

The Bowl welcomes the longed-for return of post-punk messiahs Pavement for an amazing show of rock royalty that also includes the iconic and experimental sounds of Sonic Youth and heirs to the lo-fi throne No Age. Pictured: Pavement.

• Hollywood Bowl — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Venice October 7 thru November 14

A  next generation Broadway musical that uses the vocabulary of hip-hop while sampling Othello and Brecht to spin an epic tale of struggle and redemption  sure to entertain audience members from 15 to 50 to 150. Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, creators of the 2007 audience favorite Clay, return triumphantly  to the Douglas with Venice, an ambitious new musical with a highly original score that  fuses hip-hop, R & B and even opera. Set in the not-too-distant future, this tale of two brothers who must lead their city out of a terrorist war is a visionary new theatrical  work filled with love, politics, treachery, tragedy and exhilarating music. A co-production with Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Pictured: Uzo Aduba and the cast of Venice. Photo courtesy of Kansas City Rep and CTG production by Don Ipock.

• Kirk Douglas Theatre – (213) 628-2772 — www.centertheatregroup.org

Dudamel and Ax October 8 thru 10

On a cold winter night in 1808, Beethoven presided over (and performed in) a marathon concert premiering many of his works, including the exquisitely poetic Fourth Piano Concerto. It was his last appearance as a soloist, his deafness robbing him of that part of his career. Amazingly, this masterpiece fell into neglect until revived by Mendelssohn after Beethoven's death.

• Walt Disney Concert Hall — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Dudamel conducts Messiaen October 14 thru 17

Turangalîla-symphonie is Messiaen's extraordinary ten-movement, 80-minute “love song,” written while he was obsessed with the Tristan and Isolde story. Included in the massive orchestra is a major part for solo piano and for one of the earliest electronic instruments, the eerie ondes martenot. The title, from two Sanskrit words, roughly translates: "love song and hymn of joy, time, movement, rhythm, life, and death."

• Walt Disney Concert Hall — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Green Umbrella: Bang on a Can October 19

Begun in N.Y. by Gordon, Lang and Wolfe as a one-day festival in 1987, Bang on a Can has grown to become a widely influential enterprise that commissions, performs, creates, presents and records contemporary music.

• Walt Disney Concert Hall — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Dutoit conducts Romeo and Juliet October 22 thru 24

Roméo et Juliette, a large-scale choral symphony by French composer Hector Berlioz, is regarded as one of his finest works. The libretto, by Émile Deschamps, is based on a variant of Shakespeare's play in which Juliet awakens from her death-like sleep before Romeo dies from a slower acting poison. The roles of Romeo and Juliet are represented by the orchestra, and the narrative aspects by the voices. The vocal forces are used sparingly throughout, until they are fully deployed in the finale.

• Walt Disney Concert Hall — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

Zacharias conducts Mozart and Beethoven October 29 thru 31

Focusing on the late 18th century, this program features music composed within 53 years. Noted for his specialty in the Classical period, Zacharias wears both his hats, as conductor and piano soloist.

• Walt Disney Concert Hall — (323) 850-2000 — www.laphil.com

 

Randy Newman's Harps & Angels November 10 thru December 19

The music and lyrics of one of America's most beloved songwriters, will be featured in the world premiere of Randy Newman's Harps and Angels, which has music and lyrics by Randy Newman, and is conceived by Jack Viertel.  Randy Newman's witty, complex, bittersweet and often satirical songbook is at the heart of this new work, in which the personal and the socio-political entwine creating a compelling, honest and humorous commentary on what it is like to be born, grow up, fall in love, and live and die in America. Some of the Newman songs that will be featured include “I Think It's Going to Rain Today,” “Sail Away,” “Marie,” “Rednecks,” “My Country,” “Louisiana 1927,” “Feels Like Home,” “You've Got a Friend in Me” and of course, “I Love L.A.,” among many others. Pictured: Director Jerry Zaks.
• Mark Taper Forum — (213) 628-2772 — www.centertheatregroup.org

 

Next to Normal November 23 thru January 2

From the director of RENT comes Next to Normal, an emotional  powerhouse of a musical with a thrilling contemporary score about a family   trying to take care of themselves and each other. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical Score, Next  to Normal is  the most talked about new show on Broadway — and chosen as “one of the year's  TEN best” by major critics around the country including the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times. Alice Ripley, Tony Award-winning actress will reprise her Broadway performance at the Ahmanson. Pictured: Alice Ripley.

• Ahmanson Theatre – (213) 628-2772 — www.centertheatregroup.org

 

West Side Story November 30 thru December 19

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back on Broadway mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by its two-time Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as “Something's Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.” “So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE.” –John Lahr, The New Yorker • The Pantages Theatre — (323) 468-1770 — www.broadwayla.org