Hollywood Bowl centennial lineup set
Gwen Stefani, Billie Eilish, Questlove and, of course, the L.A. Phil
Following a shortened season with a limited capacity in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic returns to the Hollywood Bowl this year to celebrate the venue's 100th season, with multiple performances led by music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel.
“The Hollywood Bowl, it changed my life completely,” Dudamel said during a recent interview backstage at the venue. The native of Venezuela came to the Hollywood Bowl for the first time in 2005 as a guest conductor, and in 2009 he signed on as the music director.
“I got this wonderful gift, and that was another family,” he continued. “A family of creativity, of beauty, of art, of music and all of that. We have lived many wonderful projects. We are still crossing a pandemic and we had to stop playing music with an audience, but then coming back now, it's like a renaissance and everything feels new again with this wonderful flavor.”
Now and Gwen
While the venue has already hosted some outside events, the L.A. Phil's batch of shows officially launches Friday with a stacked evening of music that includes Dudamel and the orchestra performing “Centennial Overture,” a piece written by movie composer and frequent Hollywood Bowl performer John Williams for the anniversary. There will also be an appearance by Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle and musicians from Youth Orchestra Los Angeles.
Novena Carmél will deliver a set with dance trio Let It Happen, followed by singer-songwriter and No Doubt frontwoman Stefani, who will join Dudamel and the L.A. Phil to perform solo material and No Doubt hits including “Don't Speak” and “Hollaback Girl.” Putting their traditional rivalry aside for the evening, the UCLA Bruin and USC Trojan marching bands will perform together for the first time ever. And, of course, there will be a massive fireworks finale.
Stefani joins a long list of artists who have collaborated with the L.A. Phil on popular music arrangements. The first pop star to perform with the orchestra was Frank Sinatra in 1943. In recent years, Broadway star Cynthia Erivo, R&B singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist H.E.R. and singer Christina Aguilera have teamed with the orchestra, and L.A.'s Billie Eilish collaborated for her Disney+ concert film, “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles,” which was released last year.
Dudamel said it brings him joy to be able to work with these artists and give audiences a taste of classical music.
“We celebrate breaking the walls of thinking that classical music is in one box and another type of music is in another box,” he said. “No, I really believe that music is one. We have the opportunity to connect with these wonderful artists and learn and share ideas and create these wonderful,
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani will help deliver the pop portion of Friday's seasonopening show alongside Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Latin singer-songwriter Ricky Martin brings his show July 22-23.
beautiful and unique performances. When I see a new audience, it feels amazing because every reaction, every applause is so genuine. and you how they receive the music. It's incredible.”
Summer highlights
Dudamel said he's looking forward
to all of the performances this year, but he's most excited about bringing the Paris Opera Ballet to the venue for the first time, with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, on July 20-21.
“It's important for me as a music director also in Paris to create an artistic and cultural bridge
Dudamel is a fan of $1tickets, which will be available for L.A. Philharmonic performances July 12 and 14, Aug. 4 and Sept. 15.
from Los Angeles to Paris,” he said, referring to his role as music director for the Paris Opera. “It's wonderful we're having the chance to bring the ballet, one of the most important ballet companies in the world, to the celebration of this 100th anniversary.”
OPENING NIGHT AT THE BOWL
He's also singled out the Musical Encounters show on Aug. 2, which will feature Dudamel, multi-instrumentalist Esperanza Spalding, members of Youth Orchestra Los Angeles and the Encuentros Orchestra, which features musicians from all over the world.
Other highlights include Ricky Martin with the L.A. Phil on July 22-23, John Fogerty on July 30, a-Ha with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and conductor Thomas Wilkins on July 31, Diana Ross on Aug. 26-27, Duran Duran on Sept. 9-11, Pink Martini on Sept. 14, and Grace Jones with Chvrches on Sept. 25.
The Hollywood Bowl will host Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom on June 19 under the direction of multi-instrumentalist Adam Blackstone and The Roots drummer Questlove; the event will feature performances by Earth, Wind & Fire; The Roots; Lucky Daye; Robert Glasper; Billy Porter; Mickey Guyton; and Re-Collective Orchestra, the first performance by an all-Black symphony orchestra at the venue.
Fireworks, Valkyries and $1 tickets
Films, and soundtracks played live with screenings, have been a summer staple at the venue for decades. That continues this year with John Williams and David Newman conducting the L.A. Phil for Maestro of the Movies: Celebrating John Williams at 90 on Sept. 2-4. The Black Movie Soundtrack program also returns for a fourth year with bassist Marcus Miller leading the house band along with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on Aug. 24.
At the July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular, Steve Martin and Martin Short with the Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko will perform with the L.A. Phil, led by Thomas Wilkins, on July 2-4. A concert July 27 pays homage to legends that have performed at the venue as Eilish, Blondie's Debbie Harry and others salute Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra.
Going back to one of the earliest performances ever at the Hollywood Bowl, Dudamel has teamed with director Yuval Sharon and an all-star cast for The Valkyries, a celebration of the music of German composer Richard Wagner that includes “Ride of the Valkyries” and “Magic Fire Music” on July 17.
Dudamel said he wanted to expand upon the venue's $1 Tuesday and Thursday ticket offerings for some classical concerts; the program, which has expanded this year, sets aside a limited number of $1 seats on some evenings, because “music and the arts are for everyone.” Available programs this season include “The Music of Leonard Bernstein” on July 12 and 14, The Splendor of SaintSaëns on Aug. 4, and Lang Lang Performs Disney on Sept. 15. The tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis.