Wave Staff Report
HOLLYWOOD — The Hollywood Bowl began its centennial celebration June 3 with a lineup of performers including singer Gwen Stefani, L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
The orchestra opened the evening with the world premiere of “Centennial Overture,” written by legendary composer John Williams, who made a surprise guest appearance to conduct the work commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood Bowl.
The celebration also included ballet stars Roberto Bolle and Tiler Peck, violinist María Dueñas, jazz artist Branford Marsalis with bassist Eric Revis and percussionist Matthew Howard.
Also performing were Novena Carmel with the dance trio Matthew Howard, musicians from the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and the first-ever joint performance by members of the UCLA Bruin and USC Trojan marching bands.
Singer Blake Shelton made an additional surprise appearance, performing with his wife Stefani. The evening ended with a fireworks show.
The Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl benefit concert raised more than $2.46 million for the L.A. Philharmonic’s learning and community initiatives and programs, which serve more than 150,000 youth, families and teachers every year.
The concert began a historic slate of summer concerts that will will include Ricky Martin with the LA Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel (July 22-23), Boyz II Men and TLC (July 29), the Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes (Aug. 19-20), Diana Ross (Aug. 26-27), fireworks shows headlined by Steve Martin & Martin Short (July 2, 3 and 4) and Duran Duran (Sept. 9, 10 and 11), and Grace Jones and CHVRCHES (Sept. 25).
Film presentations with live accompaniment include a fourth edition of Black Movie Soundtrack with bassist Marcus Miller leading a house band in the best music from the history of Black cinema, with Craig Robinson as host and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra conducted by Thomas Wilkins (Aug. 24).
A partnership once again with radio station KCRW will produce a series of genre-spanning concerts spanning from Flying Lotus and Hiatus Kaiyote with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Aug. 21); to a night of reggae hits performed by UB40, the Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain (Sept. 18).
The annual Jazz at the Bowl programs will run throughout the summer, beginning with the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival (June 25 & 26) including the Roots, Gregory Porter, Tower of Power, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, and Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, among others.
Other programs include: a Tribute to Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra with Billie Eilish, Debbie Harry, Dianne Reeves, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christian McBride, the Count Basie Orchestra and more (July 27); Sheryl Crow and Keb’ Mo’ (Aug. 3); and Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown (Aug. 10) showcasing New Orleans musicians Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, Cyril Neville: the Uptown Ruler, George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk performing the music of the Meters and the Soul Rebels. George Benson, Boney James and Lalah Hathaway will offer an evening of Smooth Summer Jazz (Aug. 28).
Four exceptional jazz presentations are scheduled for September: Wynton Marsalis will lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (Sept. 7); Pink Martini returns (Sept.14); Chucho Valdés and guests will appear in an evening of Latin jazz (Sept. 21); and Herbie Hancock, the Philharmonic’s creative chair for jazz, performs the final jazz concert of the celebratory 100th season (Sept. 28).
For the entire schedule and tickets, visit hollywoodbowl.com or call (323) 850-2000.
