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 led by Anna Handler, with Emanuel Ax as piano soloist, in John Williams’ Concerto for Piano and Orchestra and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, the “Titan.” Written specifically for Ax, Williams’ concerto is, in The New York Times’ words, “haunted by the ghosts of jazz past,” while Mahler’s First moves from birdsong and explosive crescendos to a heaven-storming finale.
Handler returns after her 2023/24 Dudamel Fellowship season. The Boston Musical Intelligencer has praised her “vigorous, infectious style [that draws] smiles from the orchestra and…ovations from the audience,” and The Wall Street Journal calls 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.