THE ONLINE CONCERT FILM SERIES FEATURES MUSIC PERFORMED BY GUSTAVO DUDAMEL, THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC AND GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDING

J’NAI BRIDGES, CHICANO BATMAN, ANDRA DAY,

JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET AND KAMASI WASHINGTON

THE SERIES WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE

BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA, August 21, 2020 — The Los Angeles Philharmonic today announced the details of SOUND/STAGE, an online compendium of concert films and related interviews, essays, and artwork. Films will be released weekly beginning September 25, through November 20, 2020. The series is one of a number of far-reaching media partnerships and digital initiatives, including the At Home with Gustavo radio program and In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl television series, to fall under the LA Phil Media umbrella.

Captured by directors James Lees and Charlie Buhler, the SOUND/STAGE performances range from orchestral concerts featuring LA Phil Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil to sets from jazz titan Kamasi Washington, powerhouse singer-songwriter Andra Day and LA’s own genre-defying Chicano Batman.

The concert films will be available online at laphil.com/soundstage. Each film will be accompanied by essays, interviews, artist playlists, and exclusive performances from the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford. This material is designed to provide context to the individual musical pieces and broader concert themes. Contributors include Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Pico Iyer, Herbie Hancock, Rian Johnson, Gabriela Ortiz, and Alicia Vera among others.

Each of the nine episodes will be posted weekly. The six orchestral programs feature music performed by Dudamel and the LA Phil, with guest artists J’Nai Bridges and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and feature compositions ranging from elegant danzóns and love songs to meditative reflections and orchestral finales. The remaining programs include Kamasi Washington performing his original score to the documentary Becoming based on Michelle Obama’s memoir of the same name, Chicano Batman performing selections from their new album Invisible People, a set from Andra Day featuring Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam,” and a Power to the People! concert featuring both orchestral work and Andra Day’s performance of one of the unofficial anthems of the Black Lives Matter movement, “Rise Up.”

LA Phil Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel said, “The world needs music more than ever right now. These new, fully-realized SOUND/STAGE programs have grown out of our recent experiences both as individuals and as members of a larger society: the ways we have stayed connected during the solitude and the reflective time of lockdown and quarantine, the overwhelming power, inspiration and passion of the Black Lives Matter protests, the memories of a lighter time when we could share a danzón at the 'Salón Los Ángeles' in Mexico City... our world is forever changed, but our music - from Beethoven to Márquez to Jessie Montgomery - has never felt more urgent, more timeless and more important."

Chief Executive Officer and David C. Bohnett Chief Executive Officer Chair Chad Smith said, “As we were thinking about how to present the programs Gustavo put together, we knew we had to do something special. Because we’re here in Los Angeles, it was natural to take a more cinematic approach and work with directors who have strong points of view. We also wanted to distinguish these films by creating a unique online experience, and a digital magazine format allows us to explore the concert’s themes in greater depth and foreground the interconnectedness of our own work with the orchestra, nationally known popular artists, community-based artists, and the humanities. This is ultimately an experiment in digital concert presentation – you can’t replace the live experience, so what can the camera and online environment allow us to experience that being seated in a theater cannot? We’re also interested in what audiences respond to. Our first SOUND/STAGE offerings are free with donations encouraged, but we hope to come away with greater insight into the future of virtual programming and the potential of paid memberships.”

The first SOUND/STAGE program, “Love in the Time of COVID” featuring J’Nai Bridges, debuts on September 25 at laphil.com/soundstage, and was made possible by the generous support of Diane and David Paul. All programs are offered for free with donations encouraged. The concert will be broadcast at a later date by Classical KUSC.

All performances were filmed outdoors at the Hollywood Bowl under strict adherence to public health guidelines with all performers maintaining social distance.

PROGRAMMING INFORMATION:

September 25

Love in the Time of COVID

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

J'Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano

WALKER  Lyric for Strings

LIEBERSON  Neruda Songs: “Amor mio, si muero y tú no mueras”

MAHLER  Adagietto, from Symphony No. 5

Includes an interview with J’Nai Bridges and an exclusive performance from The Ford

Support for this episode is provided by Diane and David Paul.

October 2

Salón Los Ángeles

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

Arturo MÁRQUEZ  Danzón No. 1

GERSHWIN  Rhapsody in Blue

Includes an interview with Arturo Márquez, a performance of the Mexican danzón by Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company, an online photo exhibition by Alicia Ruiz featuring Mexico City’s Salón Los Ángeles dance hall and a performance of traditional Mexican boleros from The Ford.

October 9

Power to the People!

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Andra Day, vocalist

Jessie MONTGOMERY  Banner

STILL “Sorrow” from Symphony No. 1, “Afro-American”

“Rise Up” performed by Andra Day

Includes an interview with Jessie Montgomery, a performance of Florence Price songs by J’Nai Bridges and an exclusive performance from The Ford’s LA Celebrates La Reina digital festival.

October 16

Andra Day

Includes an interview with the artist.

October 23

Beethoven

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 7

October 30

Kamasi Washington: Becoming

Kamasi Washington performing Original Score from BECOMING: An intimate portrayal of Michelle Obama by Kamasi Washington

Includes an interview with the artist.

November 6

Solitude

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Thomas ADÈS  Dawn (US Premiere)

ELLINGTON  Solitude

Includes an exclusive performance of Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1 by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, essay by Pico Iyer, interview with Herbie Hancock, and a special breathwork workshop from The Ford.

November 13

Chicano Batman

Includes an interview with the artist.

November 20

Finales

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

BEETHOVEN Finale from Symphony No. 7

Gabriela ORTIZ  Corpórea: “Ritual Mind – Corporeous Pulse”

RAVEL  Mother Goose: “The Fairy Garden”

Includes conversation with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, interview with composer Gabriela Ortiz. and a guest essay by director Rian Johnson.

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About Play Your Part

For the first time ever, we are unable to bring music to our stages due to COVID-19. We ask you to Play Your Part in helping the LA Phil reach that longed-for moment when we will return to Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford. Follow this link to see how you can support the LA Phil. Your generosity will directly support our musicians, teachers, students and staff, ensuring that our community is alive with music, today and always.

About LA Phil Media

Created at the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, LA Phil Media encompasses the organization’s media projects and digital initiatives, including audio recordings, radio and television broadcasts, online streaming series, digital festivals, and podcasts.

About the Los Angeles Philharmonic

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of live performances – orchestral, pop, rock, country, jazz, blues, Latin, world music, opera, chamber, Baroque, organ and celebrity recitals, theatrical performances, explorations of film music, dance, comedy, groundbreaking multimedia productions and an unmatched commitment to commissioning and performing music from the composers of today – at three of L.A.’s iconic venues: Walt Disney Concert Hall (laphil.com), the Hollywood Bowl (hollywoodbowl.com) and The Ford (theford.com). The LA Phil’s season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from September to June and at the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford throughout the summer. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, learning and community programs.