John Williams & Mahler with Anna Handler
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Anna Handler, Emanuel Ax
Walt Disney Concert HallSouth Hope Street, Los Angeles 90012
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is joined by conductor Anna Handler and pianist Emanuel Ax for John Williams’ Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, written specifically for Ax, followed by Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan.” Williams’ concerto is described as haunted by the “ghosts of jazz past,” with echoes of Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Phineas Newborn, Jr.; Mahler’s First moves from birdsong and nature evocations to explosive crescendos and a heaven-storming finale.
Handler returns after her 2023/24 Dudamel Fellowship, bringing the “vigorous, infectious style” praised by The Boston Musical Intelligencer. The Wall Street Journal has called Ax “a soloist equally renowned for interpretive sympathy and technical acumen.”
Designed by Frank Gehry, this concert hall is a striking architectural landmark with sweeping stainless steel curves that catch the light outside, while inside, its acoustics are meticulously crafted to deliver rich, clear sound to every seat. The auditorium seats over two thousand people in a space where the audience is fully immersed in the music, surrounded by warm wood paneling and a stage that brings performers close to listeners. The venue hosts ticketed performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other ensembles, offering an evening focused on attentive listening rather than casual socializing. Nearby bars and restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles provide options for pre- or post-show dining, but inside, the experience centers on the music in a refined, elegant setting.