LA Philharmonic’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ Premieres at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Image: Francesco Guazzelli / Associated Press

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has commissioned two U.K. presenters, the Aldeburgh Festival and the Barbican, to create a new approach to Oliver Knussen’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ for the production and U.S. premiere at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

On October 18, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic will add a fresh approach to ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ by adding luminous animation to the classic Sendak tale at the U.S. premiere at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Written in collaboration with Maurice Sendak, Knussen’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ originated as a classic illustrated children’s book and has evolved into productions over the last three years, including one by the Los Angeles Opera.

Now, the LA Philharmonic is reinventing the opera and incorporating an orchestral concert experience with help from the Aldeburgh Festival and the Barbican along animator and director Netia Jones.

The event opened with Ravel’s ballet “Mother Goose” staged and animated by Jones. It was repeated three times over the weekend and a stage-sized screen situated behind the orchestra. There was also a platform that singers stood on and interacted with animated Wild Things.