Last Season Concert from LA Phil

I enjoyed the last concert of the L.A. Phil Season at Disney Hall last night.  It was a fun evening with Brahms Symphony No. 3, Mozart's Symphony No. 40 and Three Hungarian Dances: 1,6, and 5 "written" by Brahms.

The guest conductor was Juanjo Mena from the Basque region of Spain.  This was his first concert at the Disney but he conducted at the Hollywood Bowl last year.  The audience warmed to him gradually and then were sold on him with his dancing on the podium while leading the Hungarian Dances.  We learned from the program and the pre-concert "Upbeat Live" led by Thomas Neenan that the Hungarian Dances were actually Gypsy folk songs arranged and written down by Brahms.  Neenan interviewed Mena during the first part of the pre-concert program.  Mena said he grew up about 60 miles from Bilbao, Spain where there is another Frank Gehry designed auditorium...so it was a bit like being at home at the Gehry designed Disney Hall. 

The audience thanked the orchestra for a great year and a great night and also thanked Mena with a standing ovation and many "Bravos!"

It was great to see the new Principal Celloist, Robert deMaine, leading the cello section and demonstrating great intensity and energy.  Whitney Crockett, Principal Bassoonist, was also outstanding last night with many major parts.

Robert de Maine

Whitney Crockett