Got the chance to see Dudamel in action.
The body language of the conductor and orchestra said they are having fun out there!
The evening started with Salonen's Insomnia. As the name suggests, it was a spooky sounding piece that captured the rat running in a maze feeling one feels late at night when one can't sleep.
The piano soloist Simon Trpceski joined the philharmonic on stage and played the demanding Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1! His fingers were moving along the keys with frantic speed. How do piano players do that? Just amazing!
Upon completion, the audience roared and applauded its praise. Trpceski treated us to a rare encore. He played a beautiful and delicate solo piano piece by Debussy.
The night was closed out with Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.
It was a night of music that makes you sit up and take notice. Dudamel energy made the audience sit up and take notice and he is clearly on his way to seizing the adoration of the LA Phil fans.
In a rare move, he had the Philharmonic take a bow facing us in the cheap seats in the Orchestra View section located behind the orchestra. We applauded and cheered at the gesture!
UPDATE: Mark Swed of the LA Times has his report of the Friday night concert.
Saturday Afternoon
UCLA 76 Xavier 57!
Followed along with radio (570 KLAC) and television CBS channel 2.
A good team effort with 4 players scoring in double digits. Go Bruins!
Saturday Evening
Click here for the LA Times coverage of the 50th Anniversary of the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Read a story about the exhibition game at the LA Coliseum. I was in Section 26 Row 56! It was a tad chilly and the strange configuration of the field was a sight to behold. It was more of an event and celebration than a baseball game but it was all for a good cause with funds going to "Think Cure" which is the Dodgers charity for cancer research.
The box score of the game. Red Sox 7 Dodgers 4.
Next up ... opening day at Dodger's Stadium on Monday afternoon!
Photos to come but for now, check out Plaschke's column describing the opening ceremony.
UPDATE: Photos below!
McCourt meeting the fans and the workers in the Left Field Pavilion.
People carrying out the flag.
Its huge!
The B-1 flyby!
As a fan of the Dodgers growing up in LA in the 70s, it brought chills to see players from those days. As someone who gobbled up Jane Leavy's biography on Sandy Koufax in a matter of days, I recognized some of the other names who came out onto the field from that era.
As player after player walked onto the field like Field of Dreams, I wondered, Koufax has been so private all these years, will he make an appearance?
The players standing at their old positions began to walk toward to mound. Lasorda trotted out from the left field bullpen and the crowd roared. Lasorda reached the mound and the crowd exploded as Koufax came out from the dugout to join the living history of the Dodgers!
Erskine, Newcombe and Koufax threw out the opening pitches!
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