Los Angeles Philharmonic Biography
The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. The orchestra holds a regular concert season from October until June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July until September. Gustavo Dudamel is the current Musical Director, while Esa-Pekka Salonen serves as Conductor Laureate, Zubin Mehta as Conductor Emeritus, and Susanna Mälkki as Principal Guest Conductor. John Adams is the orchestra’s current Composer-in-Residence. Music critics have described the orchestra as "contemporary minded", "forward thinking", "talked about and innovative", and "venturesome and admired". "We are interested in the future", Salonen said, "We are not trying to re-create the glories of the past, like so many other symphony orchestras". The orchestra's former chief executive officer, Deborah Borda, said, "Our intention has been to integrate 21st-century music into the orchestra's everyday activity, especially since we moved into the new hall". Since the opening of the Walt Disney Concert Hall on October 23, 2003, the Los Angeles Philharmonic has presented 57 world premieres, one North American premiere, and 26 U.S. premieres, and has commissioned or co-commissioned 63 new works.
