From the archives:: Rothwell to Dudamel: First impressions of L.A. Phil music directors
Since the L.A. Phil debuted in the fall of 1919 and "startled Los Angeles out of her symphonic slumbers," 11 musical directors have led the orchestra. We wondered what type of first impression each conductor made, so we dived into our archives to find out. We hope you enjoy reading about their debuts.
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Walter Henry Rothwell
Philharmonic Makes Debut; New Orchestra Raises Tone of Local Music
Convincingly proving his ability to weld into shape a new organization and his capacity for realizing both the musical and artistic content of his programme, Walter Henry Rothwell, as conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra, yesterday startled Los Angeles out of her symphonic slumbers and ... Read more
Georg Schneevoigt
Schneevoigt In Triumph; Initial Concert With Philharmonic Orchestra Brings Immediate Victory for Conductor
The name of Georg Schneevoigt will perhaps be duly mispronounced over a wide territory this morning, but the glory of a superb triumph, gained at his initial concert with the Philharmonic Orchestra, belongs to him regardless. One is inclined...Read more
Artur Rodzinski
Los Angeles' Season of Music Opens Thursday; Philharmonic Orchestra Will Begin New Concert Series Under Artur Rodzinski
The Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles gives its opening program of the season Thursday evening and Friday afternoon directed by Dr. Artur Rodzinski. The concert list chosen by Dr. Rodzinski is of general interest with the Leonore overture (Beethoven) and the Mozart G Minor symphony followed by... Read more
Otto Klemperer
Klemperer Acclaimed; New Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Receives Ovation on Opening Night of Season
Great! One word, perhaps, suffices to estimate the new conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra. Superenthusiastic, the audience gave its verdict last night, and it was preponderantly in favor of Otto Klemperer. Read more
Alfred Wallenstein
Wallenstein Wins Ovation; Opening Concert of Philharmonic Warmly Greeted
The Southern California Symphony Association presented its new musical director, Alfred Wallenstein, to an audience which filled the Philharmonic Auditorium to the top row last night. The orchestra, too, was new...Read more
Obituary: Noted Conductor Alfred Wallenstein Dies in N.Y. at 84
Eduard van Beinum
Philharmonic Brilliant in Van Beinum's Debut; Musicians Display Their Capacities in Most Favorable Light as Conductor Takes Over
Last night's concert of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in Philharmonic Auditorium, the sixth subscription program of the season, had the festive air and excitement of an opening, for it brought about the first appearance of Eduard van Beinum in his new capacity as... Read more
Obituary: Van Beinum, Philharmonic Director, Dies at Rehearsal
Zubin Mehta
Mehta Conducts First of Season's Concerts; Director's Debut Heralds Eventful New Chapter in Philharmonic History
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra began a new and what promises to be an eventful chapter in its history when Zubin Mehta officially took over the reins as musical director and conductor at the opening concert of the 44th season in Philharmonic Auditorium Thursday night. Mehta becomes... Read more
Carlo Maria Giulini
Inauguration of Giulini Era
On paper it didn’t look all that interesting. To inaugurate his regime as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Thursday night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Carlo Maria Giulini did not select a long-lost masterpiece or a neglected mystery piece. Nor did he turn to... Read more
Obituary: Intense Poet of the Podium Left Mark on Philharmonic
Andre Previn
Music, TV, Fireworks; Maestro Previn Takes Over
It certainly wasn't just another opening, another show. To celebrate the arrival of Andre Previn as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Thursday night, our cultural guardians pulled out a few extra extramusical stops. Before the concert could begin... Read more
Esa-Pekka Salonen
An Inspired Opening for Esa-Pekka Salonen
Lights. Camera. Mahler. It is official at last. Esa-Pekka Salonen has become the 10th music-director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Or the 11th, if one cares to count the lamented, aborted regime of Georg Solti. It certainly didn't... Read more
Gustavo Dudamel
Bowled over by L.A.'s new maestro
And so, Saturday, it came to pass. After all the extraordinary buildup — the billboards and the bilingual media frenzy — 18,000 people from every corner of the city came to the Hollywood Bowl to bear witness. He goes by many names... Read more
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