EVENING FEATURED CELEBRITIES ANGELA BASSETT, ARSENIO HALL, DARREN CRISS, PETER FONDA AND STEVIE WONDER

ANNUAL OPENING NIGHT TRIBUTE PRESENTED MEMBERS OF YOLA PERFORMING MUSIC BY STRAVINSKY

THOMAS WILKINS LED THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA

EVENING BENEFITTED THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC AND ITS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Special Thanks to Wells Fargo for its Generous Support of Opening Night

Additional Support Provided by Disney

The Hollywood Bowl ushered in the beginning of summer and its 92^nd season with the 14^TH Annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and Opening Night Concert, Saturday, June 22, at 8 pm. This year’s star-studded lineup included: four Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame inductees – Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of the iconic rock band AEROSMITH, multi-talented vocalist/entertainer Patti Austin, and nine-time Grammy-winning singer John Legend; four presenters, talk show host/comedian Arsenio Hall, actor and musician Darren Criss, actor/writer/producer Peter Fonda and the incomparable Stevie Wonder; and acclaimed actress Angela Bassett as host of the evening. Video montages of the inductees were shown on the Bowl’s new LED screens prior to each of their performances, paying tribute to their careers. The annual kick off to the Bowl season also featured the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (HBO), led by congenial Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins, as well as a performance featuring 65 students from Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), performing the conclusion of Stravinsky’s Firebird. The Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl benefit concert raised more than $1 million for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s many music education programs, which serve more than 120,000 youths, families and teachers every year.

The special evening got underway with Wilkins and the HBO performing James Stephenson’s American Fanfare, followed by the “Sacrificial Dance” from Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring. In honor of the 100^th anniversary of this seminal work, Opening Night Hall of Fame producers Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton commissioned Los Angeles-based Visual Artist Jon DeGooyer to create a visual accompaniment for the music. The video was developed using audio reactive generative video programs and also incorporated archival Hollywood Bowl footage and shots of Stravinsky.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremonies began with the evening’s host Angela Bassett welcoming the audience before introducing Arsenio Hall. Hall, whose friendship with Patti Austin dates back to the early ‘80s when they met through Hall’s mentor, and Austin’s godfather, Quincy Jones, shared some of his recollections about Austin’s work before introducing a video tribute featuring some of the highlights of her career. Then Austin and her band, along with a choir, the HBO and Wilkins launched into her set, which included a medley of her major hits “Baby Come to Me/How Do You Keep the Music Playing/Razzmattazz,” followed by “Lean On Me,” “You Gotta Be,” and “How High the Moon.”

Next, musical icon Stevie Wonder took the stage to induct John Legend. The two met while rehearsing for the BET Awards in 2005, when Legend won Best New Artist. Since then, they’ve played multiple shows together, including the Super Bowl in Detroit and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert at Madison Square Garden. Following his video tribute, Legend, at the piano, played and sang some of his well-known hits, “Where Did My Baby Go,” “Again,” “All of Me,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” with the HBO led by Wilkins. And, in the surprise of the evening, Wonder returned to the stage to join Legend in "Ordinary People."

Following intermission, the Hall of Fame and Opening Night Concert resumed with a performance of the appropriately titled song “Hall of Fame” by musician and “Glee” actor Darren Criss, joined by the Burroughs High School Powerhouse Show Choir. After his performance, Criss introduced the evening’s music education sequence. The video presentation featured highlights and experiences of the LA Phil’s YOLA students, including the trip by some of them to London earlier this year. Following this heart-warming introduction, 65 students, ranging in ages from 12 to 17, from the two YOLA sites – EXPO and HOLA – performed the conclusion of Stravinsky’s Firebird, led by Wilkins.

The induction ceremony paused briefly with a look at the audience to introduce the event’s chairs: Opening Night Co-Chairs Barbara and Jay Rasulo, and Sponsorship Chairs Jonathan Weedman and Raymundo Baltazar – acknowledged by Classical KUSC’s Rich Capparela, the voice of the Hall of Fame concerts for all 14 seasons.

The attention returned to the stage for the final induction of the evening – Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. The rockers were presented by film icon Peter Fonda. He introduced a video showcasing Tyler and Perry’s musical backgrounds and  achievements, before they and their band, along with the HBO and Wilkins, launched into an energetic performance of “Love in an Elevator,” “Dream On,” "Cryin’," and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." The pair completed their set with one of their most popular hits, "Walk This Way." They returned to the stage, along with Austin, and Legend for the reprise of "Walk This Way," accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.

A number of film and television personalities, as well as elected and other civic officials, were on hand to enjoy the benefit concert, including Morena Baccarin of Showtime’s “Homeland,” Wayne Brady, Eriq LaSalle, Sheri Saum of ABC Family’s new show “The Fosters,” Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek, Patina master chef Joachim Splichal, County Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Gloria Molina, City Councilman Tom LaBonge, County CEO Bill T. Fujioka, Los Angeles Philharmonic Board Chairman David Bohnett, Los Angeles Philharmonic President Deborah Borda and Los Angeles Philharmonic Chief Operating Officer Gail Samuel.

Prior to the concert, Opening Night Patrons enjoyed a VIP cocktail reception in the Hollywood Bowl Museum Patio, decorated to celebrate the Blues and Rock n’ Roll tradition of the Hollywood Bowl. Wells Fargo, the Opening Night Sponsor, set their famous full-size stage coach replica inside the cocktail reception, and guests enjoyed having their photo taken inside the coach and being presented immediately with a commemorative photo. A second Wells Fargo stage coach was located in the main plaza for additional photo opportunities.

Following the reception, Opening Night Patrons proceeded to their dinner boxes. Each box table was laid with obre-colored linens, complemented by a modern white vase with fuchsia Mokara Orchids, an idyllic backdrop for the gourmet dinner provided by Patina Restaurant Group and served on natural material recyclable plates.

The dinner, a custom menu designed by Patina Restaurant Group’s Splichal, presented a first course salad of Tuscan kale salad, summer radish, soft toasted ciabatta, smoked Romesco sauce and pickled fennel. The main entrée was a crispy pollo a la plancha, chickpea hummus, herb grilled asparagus, olive oil-marinated cherry tomatoes and natural jus. Dinner concluded with Barbara’s Berry Crostata, in honor of the evening’s Gala Chairs, Barbara and Jay Rasulo.

Wine for the evening was provided by Cupcake Vineyards.

Established in 2000, the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame identifies and pays tribute to artists whose unique achievements embody the spirit of the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl. The Hall of Fame is now part of an exhibit on the main floor of the Hollywood Bowl Museum that includes photos and film of inductees over the years.

Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Patti Austin and John Legend join the distinguished company of artists – John Williams, Garth Brooks, Marilyn Horne, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, John Raitt, Monty Python, Kathleen Battle, Randy Newman, Bernadette Peters, Leopold Stokowski, George Harrison, the Smothers Brothers, Roger Daltrey, Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Henry Mancini, Sarah Chang, Brian Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, Joshua Bell, Frank Sinatra, Carlos Santana, André Watts, Plácido Domingo, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Founding Director John Mauceri, Liza Minnelli, Sir James Galway, B.B. King, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Josh Groban, Donna Summer, the Carpenters, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Harry Connick, Jr., Gloria Estefan, Chaka Khan and Reba – previously inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. Drawn from the diverse arena of musical entertainment, including classical, pop, jazz, musical theater, and film composition, new Hall of Fame honorees receive their tributes as part of the Bowl’s annual opening night celebration.

The Opening Night Hall of Fame Concert is chaired by Gala Chairs Barbara and Jay Rasulo and Sponsorship Chairs Jonathan Weedman and Raymundo Baltazar. Special thanks to Wells Fargo for its generous support of Opening Night.

The “Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame” was conceived on behalf of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who have created and produced all of the Hall of Fame opening concerts.

One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and is home to the best and brightest in all genres of music. It remains one of the best deals in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. The venue offers something for everyone, from its sizzling summer evening concerts to the daytime summer arts festival for children, “SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl,” now in its 44th season. In February 2013, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the ninth year in a row at the 24th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The Hollywood Bowl has become synonymous with summer in Southern California. http://www.HollywoodBowl.com

Special Thanks to Wells Fargo for its Generous Support of Opening Night

Additional Support Provided by Disney

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06.22.13