Los Angeles Philharmonic
About this Artist
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the vibrant leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music through a commitment to foundational works and adventurous explorations. Both at home and abroad, the LA Phil—recognized as one of the world’s outstanding orchestras—is leading the way in groundbreaking and diverse programming, on stage and in the community, that reflects the orchestra’s artistry and demonstrates its vision. 2021/22 marks the orchestra’s 103rd season.
More than 250 concerts are either performed or presented by the LA Phil at its three iconic venues: the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Ford, and the famed Hollywood Bowl. During its winter season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, with approximately 165 performances, the LA Phil creates festivals, artist residencies, and other thematic programs designed to enhance the audience’s experience of orchestral music. Since 1922, its summer home has been the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, host to the finest artists from all genres of music. Situated in a 32-acre park and under the stewardship of the LA Phil since December 2019, The Ford presents an eclectic summer season of music, dance, film, and family events that are reflective of the communities that comprise Los Angeles.
The orchestra’s involvement with Los Angeles extends far beyond its venues, with wide-ranging performances in the schools, churches, and neighborhood centers of a vastly diverse community. Among its influential and multifaceted learning initiatives is YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), inspired by Venezuela’s revolutionary El Sistema. Through YOLA, the LA Phil and its community partners provide free instruments, intensive music instruction, and leadership training to nearly 1,500 students from underserved neighborhoods, empowering them to become vital citizens, leaders, and agents of change. In fall 2021, YOLA opened its own permanent, purpose-built facility: the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center at Inglewood, designed by architect Frank Gehry.
The orchestra also undertakes tours, both domestically and internationally, including regular visits to New York, London (where the orchestra is the Barbican Centre’s International Orchestral Partner), Paris, and Tokyo. As part of its global Centennial activities, the orchestra visited Seoul, Tokyo, Mexico City, London, Boston, and New York. The LA Phil’s first tour was in 1921, and the orchestra has made annual tours since the 1969/70 season.
The LA Phil has released an array of critically acclaimed audio recordings, including world premieres of the music of John Adams and Louis Andriessen, along with Grammy® Award-winning recordings featuring the music of Johannes Brahms, Charles Ives, Andrew Norman, and Gustav Mahler. Deutsche Grammophon released a comprehensive box set in honor of the orchestra’s Centennial.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic was founded in 1919 by William Andrews Clark, Jr., a wealthy amateur musician. Walter Henry Rothwell became its first Music Director, serving until 1927; since then, 10 renowned conductors have served in that capacity. Their names are Georg Schnéevoigt (1927-1929); Artur Rodziński (1929-1933); Otto Klemperer (1933-1939); Alfred Wallenstein (1943-1956); Eduard van Beinum (1956-1959); Zubin Mehta (1962-1978); Carlo Maria Giulini (1978-1984); André Previn (1985-1989); Esa-Pekka Salonen (1992-2009); and Gustavo Dudamel (2009-present).
“So far ahead of other American orchestras that it is in competition mainly with its own past achievements.”
— The New Yorker’s Alex Ross