Gustavo Dudamel Kicks Off 2nd Season With The LA Phil At Walt Disney Concert Hall

The LA Phil's 2010/11 Season Opener Featured Famed Peruvian Tenor Juan Diego Flórez in a Program of Bel Canto Arias and Popular Latin Canciones Evening Was Broadcast Live on KUSC and NPR.org and Taped for International PBS Telecast and DVD Release

The 2010 LA Phil Celebración Gala is Made Possible with the Proud Support of Rolex, the Official Timepiece of the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Additional underwriting has been provided by The Lloyd E. Rigler - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation

This concert is being recorded for telecast by Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images, THIRTEEN for WNET.ORG, 3sat, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as part of public television's performing arts series Great Performances

Proceeds support the LA Phil and its education programs, including YOLA (Youth Orchestra LA)

The Los Angeles Philharmonic is generously donating its services for this concert

The Los Angeles Philharmonic welcomed Gustavo DudaMel Back for his second season as Music Director with a Latin-inspired program featuring the world-renowned orchestra and special guest artist, tenor Juan Diego Floréz, Thursday, October 7, at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Film and television star Eva Mendez was present to host the taping of the event - Celebración: Opening Night Concert and Gala - by PBS for broadcast in the U.S. and Europe as well as release on DVD.

The event was also broadcast live on Classical KUSC FM 91.5 and NPR.org.

The evening began with the arrival of music legends John Adams, Herbie Hancock, John Williams and Neil Diamond, who walked a vibrant raspberry-red carpet to the grand stairway of Walt Disney Concert Hall. In addition to Mendes, they were also joined by Stephen Moyer ("True Blood") as well as more than 650 Gala Patrons for pre-concert cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in BP Hall.

The concert was a special program of bel canto arias and popular Latin American canciones developed by Dudamel and Flórez and featured overtures and arias by Rossini, in
addition to songs by Granda, Lara, Grever and Gutiérrez.
Following the final piece, Márquez' Danzón No. 2, the audience responded with a rousing ovation, bringing Flórez back to the stage for an encore which included a thrilling rendition of Donizetti's A mes amis.

The festivities continued outside on Grand Avenue in a dinner tent decorated in a sophisticated combination of white and black tables with raspberry accents and a continuously changing light display projected onto large spheres suspended overhead. Following welcoming remarks by President Deborah Borda, Chairman David Bohnett and Dudamel, a sumptuous menu created by Patina Chef Joachim Splichal was served with wines provided by William Hill Estate Winery. The highlight of the post-concert party was a surprise appearance by singer Melissa Manchester, who brought guests to their feet with her rendition of "Let's Face the Music and Dance."
Dudamel and his wife Eloísa Maturén Dudamel joined the crowded floor and dancing continued for several more sets of tunes performed by "Impulse."

The Celebración Gala Committee included Gala Chair David C. Bohnett; Honorary Chair Eloísa Maturén Dudamel; Maria Bell, Lynn A. Booth, Margaret Eberhardt, Kimberly Marteau Emerson, Lenore S. Greenberg, Joan Hotchkis, Joyce A. Kresa, Ginny Mancini, Jane Nathanson, Soraya Nazarian, Carolyn Powers, Nancy S. Sanders, Carla Sands and Alyce Williamson.

The Grand Avenue Gala party was created by Gai Klass Event Productions.

All Gala proceeds support the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its education programs, including YOLA, the signature program of Gustavo Dudamel. The Gala concert was made possible with the proud support of Rolex, the Official Timepiece of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Celebración: Opening Night Concert and Gala was recorded for telecast by Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images, THIRTEEN for WNET.ORG, 3sat and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as part of public television's performing arts series Great Performances. Celebración will air in the U.S., Wednesday, December 29, at 9 p.m. (check local listings).

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, presents the finest
in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable locations anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational concerts, children's programming and community concerts, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

Rolex, with its headquarters in Geneva, is one of the world's foremost watchmakers, with an unrivalled reputation for quality craftsmanship. Since its inception in 1905, the privately owned company has introduced a series of revolutionary innovations, starting with the first truly waterproof watch, the Oyster, in 1926 and the first self-winding watch in 1931.

Since 1927, Rolex has been associated with the quest for excellence, when it placed a Rolex Oyster on the wrist of a young swimmer, Mercedes Gleitze, as she swam across the English Channel.

Then in 1953, Rolex was present during the first successful ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary. In keeping with its long tradition of encouraging individual excellence and the pursuit of perfection, Rolex
makes a particular contribution to the arts world through its various sponsoring activities. For decades, Rolex has
forged relationships with many of the world's cultural icons, legendary institutions and most prestigious events. Currently Rolex is present at more than 150 events in the areas of culture and the arts, plus sports activities including golf, yachting, tennis, equestrian events, and select motorsports, as well as philanthropic awards programs. Celebrating its commitment to extraordinary artistry, Rolex is proud to sponsor the 2010 Los Angeles Philharmonic Gala at the world-renowned Walt Disney Concert Hall, on Thursday, October 7, 2010. These distinguished timepieces are treasured by individuals in all lifestyles. Sports enthusiasts value its
ruggedness, explorers depend on its reliability, many are drawn to its sophisticated movements, and some simply value its classic elegance. Rolex has become the symbol of life's crowning achievements.

About WNET.ORG