Empty Seats, No Dudamel: L.A. Phil's Somber Bowl Debut

A New Season at the Hollywood Bowl

Tuesday night marked the beginning of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 103rd season at the Hollywood Bowl. The evening was filled with a beautiful, serene atmosphere—lustrous twilight, a bright moon, and paradisal weather. Traffic was unusually light, and the security process was welcoming and efficient. The program featured beloved works by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, making it easy for attendees to leave their daily concerns behind as they entered the venue.

However, the real world is never far from the Bowl. One of the highlights of this season has been affected by a baffling Venezuela travel ban, which prevents Gustavo Dudamel from bringing his Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra to the Bowl in August. As a result, Dudamel will spend only one week at the Bowl during his penultimate summer as L.A. Phil music director. This change marks a significant shift from previous years, where such events were more prominent.

The Bowl has undergone some upgrades to its facilities, but the amphitheater still feels fragile after the January wildfires. Additionally, the presence of military on the streets has created an L.A. edginess that might have contributed to the unusually low attendance on opening night. While ticket sales were strong, the many empty seats raised questions about potential no-shows.

This year’s summer season at the Bowl features fewer splashy events than usual, including the absence of opera. Several conductors are making their Bowl debuts, and there is a strong focus on Russian music. Despite the lovely atmosphere, Tuesday night felt somber, reflecting the mood of the times.

Thomas Sondergard Makes His Debut

Danish conductor and Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Thomas Sondergard made his L.A. Phil debut on Tuesday. There is always speculation about who might be considered for the position of L.A. Phil's next music director after Dudamel departs for New York next year. However, Bowl concerts tend to be short-term engagements, making it difficult to assess long-term potential.

Sondergard demonstrated a sense of grandeur, sometimes powerful and other times starchy. The performance had its share of technical issues, including audio and video problems, as the orchestra was still recovering from vacation and had minimal rehearsal time. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A Minor opened the program, but the piece is considered a lesser work by the British composer, who deserves more recognition for his substantial compositions.

A Striking Performance of Rachmaninoff

For Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, the subdued blue shell lighting suddenly turned a vivid orange. Amplification and illumination clashed, with pianist Kirill Gerstein unnaturally dominating the orchestra. The video monitors added to the chaos with close-ups and surreal special effects. Despite these challenges, Gerstein delivered a gripping performance, showcasing his intense and purposeful playing. He recently released an iridescent recording of a piece written for him by Chick Corea and has also recorded a powerful version of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic.

The performance of Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, written in 1944, offered a contrast to the earlier piece. The symphony was composed during a time of great change, and its themes of war and nationalism resonated deeply. Sondergard’s interpretation lacked the soul of André Previn’s performance, but it still captured the monumental and threatening nature of the work.

The Relevance of Russian Music

This summer, Russian music abounds at the Bowl, with Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and Stravinsky all featured. The Bowl’s annual “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” retained the “1812 Overture,” beginning with the Ukrainian National Anthem. This choice reflects the current global context, particularly the U.S.’s reaffirmed commitment to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Russian music has been a mainstay of the Bowl for 103 years, shaping the artistic identity of Los Angeles. The way Russian composers, both those who stayed and those who left, dealt with militarism, nationalism, and repression remains relevant today. As the season continues, the performances at the Bowl will undoubtedly continue to reflect the complex and evolving relationship between music and the world around it.