It isn’t every year that my season opens with a debut in one of the world’s great musical cities, and this one began in extraordinary fashion with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the stunning Walt Disney Concert Hall. Launching the Philharmonic’s subscription season with Copland’s Third Symphony – the greatest American symphony, in my opinion, and a work that has carried profound meaning for me since I first played as a boy in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain – was a joy. John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine as the opener made celebration and fanfare an unmistakable throughline for the evening and showcased the brilliance and precision of the L.A. Phil’s brass section, whose sound electrified the hall from the evening’s very first bars.
Collaborating with Acting Concertmaster Bing Wang and Principal Viola Ben Ullery on Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, I was reminded how much I relish the opportunity to collaborate with concerto soloists from within a great orchestra. It offers a unique window into the ensemble’s internal leadership and creates an intimate atmosphere born of the special care with which orchestras generally accompany their own. That closeness made me feel particularly connected to the ensemble in support of Bing and Ben’s wonderful playing.
I simply could not have asked for a more enjoyable or fulfilling first encounter with a world‑class orchestra and am deeply grateful to the wonderful musicians of the L.A. Phil for their warmth, generosity, and inspirational playing.
Photos by Farah Sosa provided courtesy of the L.A. Phil.
