Rolex Presents the Star-Studded 2015 Opening Gala for the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Photo Credit: Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging

Gustavo Dudamel led the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuala for an epic opening night celebration this week in honor of the 2015/16 opening night gala The Brilliance of Beethoven.

The Rolex-presented black-tie event took place at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday evening and was attended by Bryce Dallas Howard, Hilary Swank, Julie Andrews, Christoph Waltz, William Shatner, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Kate Burton, Matthew Lillard, Mia Maestro, Chris O’Donnell, Alex Meneses, Neil Lane, LA Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, LA Philharmonic Board Chair Diane B. Paul, LA Philharmonic President and CEO Deborah Borda, LA Philharmonic Creative Chair John Adams and Deborah O’Grady, LA Philharmonic Creative Chair for Jazz Herbie Hancock and Gigi Hancock, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Frank Gehry, Michael and Jane Eisner, Eli and Edye Broad, Ginny Mancini, and many more.

The all-Beethoven gala celebration also launched the LA Phil’s Immortal Beethoven festival. Dudamel conducts the program which includes excerpts from two dramatic works, Egmont and Creature of Prometheus, not found elsewhere in the festival programming. The Egmont excerpts will be narrated by actor Christoph Waltz and feature soprano Rachele Gilmore. The Creature of Prometheus features principal dancer Beckanne Sisk of Ballet West II and the following dancers of Barak Ballet in the finale with choreography by Melissa Barak: Jessica Gadzinski, Hannah Wilcox, Mauro Villanueva, Evan Swenson and Ryan Camou.

The Opening Night Concert concluded with the large combined orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale and vocal soloists that included soprano Mariana Ortiz, mezzo-soprano J’nai Bridges, tenor Joshua Guerrero, and bass Soloman Howard, performing the final “Ode to Joy” movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Photo Credit: Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging