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Once the annual jazz festival is over at the Hollywood Bowl, it’s time for the full season to begin. I have the 12 Hollywood Bowl Shows Not to Miss this year for you.
Many of you know that the classical concerts are on Tuesdays and Thursdays and more mainstream events make up the bulk of the rest of the nights. Of course, there are exceptions.
Here are my 12 Hollywood Bowl Shows Not to Miss this year:
Gay pride is celebrated a little outside the usual time frame, but how great that there is a pride night at the Bowl. And with a great line-up, too.
The concert, performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Oliver Zeffman conducting, opens with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. That is followed by Jennifer Higdon’s blue cathedral.
Unless I’m mistaken, this is the first LA Philharmonic performance of Higdon’s music.
Composer Jake Heggie and Taylor Mac’s Good Morning, Beauty closes out the first half.
Violinist and Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 8 queen Thorgy Thor performs Drag Moment before the concert loses with Tchaikovsky’s Francesa da Rimini.
Jamie Barton, Anthony Roth Costanzo and Pumeza Matshikiza also perform.
Cinematic Scores of Alexandre Desplat – July 15th
Film composer Desplat is an 11-time Academy Award nominee for his work. Amongst his film credits are The Queen, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Argo and Zero Dark Thirty.
He won two Oscars for his scores to The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Shape of Water.
Music from those two scores will be performed in this concert that will have Desplat conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I’ve had the privilege of watching him conduct in scoring sessions. He has a great way of working with musicians.
Also on the program is music from Fantastic Mr. Fox, The French Dispatch, Girl With a Pearl Earring, Godzilla, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Imitation Game, The King’s Speech, The Lost King and Pinocchio,
I believe that Desplat is truly one of the finest composers working in film today. Don’t believe me? Check out this concert.
Pianist Hélène Grimaud joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1. That is reason enough to see the concert.
Conductor Tabita Berglund is on the podium and will conduct Edvard Grieg’s Music from Peer Gynt in the second half.
Two classic works, one supremely talented soloist.
The Planets – July 24th – includes Lark Ascending – Martin Chalifour
There are three very great reasons to want to attend this concert.
First and foremost is it marks one of the last performances by violinist Martin Chalifour before his retirement from the LA Philharmonic.
The second reason is the piece he’s playing: Vaughan Williams’ A Lark Ascending. If you don’t know it, do yourself a favor and find a recording to listen to. It’s absolutely beautiful and will, with the cooperation of aircraft flying overhead, silent the crowd at the Bowl.
The last is the program concludes with Holst’s The Planets. If ever there was a perfect venue in which to hear this music, it is outdoors at the Bowl. Who knows, you might even be able to see one of those very planets the night of the concert.
Leonard Slatkin conducts (and opens with his son’s composition Voyager 130) the LA Philharmonic. The Pacific Chorale also joins.
Jesus Christ Superstar – Aug 1st – 3rd
Cynthia Erivo plays Jesus in this three-night production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical.
I could stop there, but there’s also Adam Lambert playing Judas.
Sergio Trujillo directs and choreographs. Emilio Sosa is the costume designer.
Stephen Oremus conducts.
You’ll want it so. You’ll love it so. And did I mention that Cynthia Erivo is playing Jesus?
Mahler & Korngold with Dudamel – Aug 7th
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of Korngold’s Violin Concerto with Vilde Frang as the soloist. I’m a big fan of this piece and of Korngold’s work in general.
But the star attraction on this program is Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan.” Anyone who has had the privilege of watching Dudamel conduct Mahler knows how special this will be.
If you aren’t going to be in Los Angeles, you can listen to his 2009 recording with the LA Philharmonic to get a sense of what you’ll be missing.
Rachmaninoff Under the Stars – August 19th and August 21st
There are two separate concerts with different programming on each night. Lots of Rachmaninoff to hear and enjoy!
On night one, Daniel Harding conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Daniil Trifonov as the soloist
On night two, they Trifonov will perform the Piano Concerto No. 3.
The second act of each night features Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2
I’ve seen Trifonov many times. He’s going to be extraordinary. Classical piano fans will want to see him perform both nights. If you don’t want to see the symphony for a second time, plan on not parking at the Bowl.
Sarabande africaine – Angélique Kidjo & Yo-Yo Ma – August 28th
The unlikely duo of cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Benin’s finest export, Angélique Kidjo, are touring the United States in what is bound to be a truly original concert.
The two recorded Blewu by Bella Bellow on Ma’s 2021 album Notes for the Future. The simple pairing of her voice with his playing gave me goosebumps.
I can only imagine that a full night of these two outstanding musicians performing together will be nothing short of magical.
Mozart’s Requiem – September 4th
As many times as I’ve heard Mozart’s Requiem, one of my favorite pieces, I’ve never heard it outdoors at the Bowl. This is a chance for us all to do so.
James Gaffigan conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The soloists joining are tenor Joshua Blue, bass-baritone Ben Brady, mezzo-soprano Isabel Signoret and soprano Elena Villalón.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale will be adding their powerful voices to Mozart’s legendary piece.
That’s the second half of the concert. The first half opens with Ellen Reid’s Body Cosmic and concludes with Brahms’ Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny). I anticipate the Brahms will also be performed with the LA Master Chorale.
Black Movie Soundtrack V – September 10th
I would argue that this is going to be the best party of the year at the Hollywood Bowl. I’ve been to three previous Black Movie Soundtrack nights and each is better than the previous one.
Curated by Reginald Hudlin, Marcus Miller and Craig Robinson (who serves as emcee), this is a celebration of the songs found in some of the best Black Movies. Many of those songs will be accompanied by footage from the films.
Derrick Hodge conducts the Color of Noize Orchestra. And there are special guests.
A lot of them: Bun B, Miles Caton, Morris Day, Full Force, Warren G, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Alice Smith. Plus Jennifer Holliday who appeared at the last Black Movie Soundtrack. She sang so powerfully that I’m surprised the shell at the Hollywood Bowl didn’t levitate. She blew the roof of that place!
Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton Tribute – September 24th
Those of us of a certain age will always remember the first time we heard Minnie Riperton sing Lovin’ You. Her incredible range was a breathtaking as her death at age 31 was heartbreaking.
She left us with six albums (one of them the posthumous Love Lives Forever) that will certainly serve as the foundation for this concert.
The full line-up of artists participating has yet to be finalized. The artists announced at present include Aloe Blacc, Alex Isley, Chante Moore and säje.
I love that Riperton is being celebrated. It’s about time.
That’s my 12 Hollywood Bowl Shows not to miss this summer. I probably left out some of your favorites. I left out some of mine, too. (Herbie Hancock, Celebrating the Music of John Williams, other Dudamel concerts and more).
If you want tickets and more information for any of these concerts, click on the name of the event. For the two Rachmaninoff concerts, click on your preferred date.
What are you most looking forward to seeing? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Main Photo: The Hollywood Bowl
All Photos Courtesy of The Los Angeles Philharmonic except as noted