Dudamel Conducts the Fifth Symphony and Piano Concerto No. 4
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Rudolf Buchbinder
Walt Disney Concert HallSouth Hope Street, Los Angeles 90012
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, pairs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with Symphony No. 5. Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder takes the concerto’s solo part in a program that reunites works premiered together in December 1808, moving from the concerto’s introspective passages and bravura writing to the Fifth’s four-note motif and its arc from darkness to triumph.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1919, the LA Phil is a symphony orchestra whose musicians perform repertoire "from Bach to Beck." Dudamel and Buchbinder are longtime artistic partners whose musical friendship has been forged through performances across Europe and the United States; Buchbinder is described by The Guardian as a Beethoven pianist of "big-boned, full-throttle" command.
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.