[ PBS theme music plays ] [ Symphony orchestra plays soft music ] -Next, on "Great Performances," the stage is set at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles for a gala celebration to mark its 20th anniversary and honor architect Frank Gehry, who designed a pitch-perfect home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

[ Soft music plays ] Maestro Gustavo Dudamel is at the podium, leading the L.A. Phil, joined by jazz icon Herbie Hancock, R&B sensation H.E.R., dance pioneer Lucinda Childs, and more.

"The L.A. Phil Celebrates Frank Gehry," next.

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[ Symphony orchestras plays soft music ] ♪♪ Spreading out over an entire city block in downtown Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall is a major capstone in architect Frank Gehry's iconic career.

Opened in 2003, the building design features shimmering scales, undulating curves, and billowing sails -- a reflection of Gehry's lifelong passion for the sea.

Inside, the concert hall is crafted to resemble a ceremonial barge where the audience surrounds the orchestra on all three sides.

-I wanted the exterior and the interior to be a consistent language.

I wanted it to be all of one piece.

I had the fantasy the conductor conducted the building and the orchestra and everything.

-Gehry's vision took 16 years of construction to be realized.

As the hall neared completion, tension mounted as the moment of truth arrived and the ultimate sound check had to be performed.

Would Gehry's hall really sing?

-Frank and I -- we were sitting high up on the balcony, very, very, very nervous because this really was like the first test ever.

And Martin was standing in front of a gaping hole that would become the stage of this hall, and started playing the E-major partita for solo violin by Bach.

So these were the first notes we heard in this hall.

And how they sounded -- they were floating in space like birds.

And Frank and I we -- we had tears in our eyes because it was like, after all these years, we -- we heard this beautiful thing floating in the -- in this beautiful space.

[ Soft music plays ] ♪♪ -The room have an energy -- an energy that, you know, embrace you immediately.

It's a big room.

But it doesn't feel big.

It feels, like, warm.

-Acoustically, I would say, it's one of the best concert halls, by any standards.

You know, including the old, old halls and new halls, it -- this is a gem.

-So, there's a certain height.

And we -- The ceiling is splayed so it spreads the sound, and then the walls curve so that it focuses the sound.

But I think the main thing is creating the intimacy between the people in the seats and the orchestra.

And the people in the seats -- I go there a lot -- they always tell me how great that is.

-I'm sure.

-And members of the orchestra always tell me how great.

So I think we succeeded.

-The Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall has succeeded beyond expectation.

It is an internationally recognized architectural landmark, a model of superior acoustics, a welcoming "living room for the people," and a state-of-the-art venue for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

[ Applause ] Martin Chalifour steps onto the stage to lead the orchestra tuning.

Chalifour has been principal concertmaster at the L.A. Phil since 1995.

He has the special distinction of being the first musician to play here, when he performed that early acoustic test.

[ Symphony orchestra tuning ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] Tonight's program, curated by Gustavo Dudamel, combines Gehry's love of the sea, orchestral music, and jazz into one imaginative theme: "The Play of Water."

[ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Gustavo Dudamel takes the podium.

As the stage lights dim, all eyes and ears are focused on the organ loft.

[ Violin plays up-tempo music ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Symphony orchestra plays soft music ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ [ Piano solo ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Piano music intensifies ] ♪♪ [ Symphony orchestra plays mid-tempo music ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Gong clangs ] ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music fades ] [ Music stops ] [ Applause ] Launching this gala tribute were back-to-back performances that show the versatility of Gehry's exceptionally designed space.

Lucinda Childs danced as if floating above the orchestra, and violinist Geneva Lewis began our program serenading us from the organ loft that towers over the rear of the stage.

[ Cheers and applause ] Coming to the stage is Esa-Pekka Salonen, noted composer and also the former music director for the L.A. Phil during the first decade of Walt Disney Concert Hall.

His piece, "Fog," composed for Frank Gehry's 90th birthday, is a play on Frank O. Gehry's initials and Gehry's sailboat Foggy.

[ Applause continues ] Returning to the stage are violin soloist Geneva Lewis, who played the Bach partita, and modern-dance pioneer Lucinda Childs, who performed her original choreography for "Fog."

[ Applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause fades ] Our gala program continues as Maestro Dudamel returns to honor "star" architect Frank Gehry and introduce the next special guest.

[ Applause ] -Good evening, everyone.

[ Cheers and applause ] Welcome to this beautiful, special, magic night -- this celebration of the beginning of our season.

But the most important thing tonight is that we are celebrating an artist, and unique and generous human being, a genius of all the times.

That is our dear Frank Gehry.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] Yeah.

We are very good friends.

So I will let myself to call you Pancho.

[ Laughter ] Pancho Gehry.

[ Laughter ] Frank "Pancho" Gehry designed this -- well, it's difficult to describe, because it's not a building.

This is really a unique and magic place.

So, it looks so futuristic.

But it was already built 20 years ago.

Means that Frank is an incredible and unique visionary.

Which bring us an atemporal feeling.

You know, we feel here like in a journey.

It's like, as Frank loved the sea to sail and all of that, we feel like we are, you know, in a boat -- in a big, beautiful boat.

And for us, you know, in the history of the Disney Hall, it have been a privilege.

We had the chance to play -- Well, we didn't play, but Geneva Lewis -- she played the "Partita Number 3" of Bach, E-major, which was the first music played inside of this hall when it was under construction.

Esa-Pekka, you were there.

I think there is Esa-Pekka Salonen, that's also a champion of this.

[ Cheers and applause ] And I remember you telling me, that moment when Bach was played here, and it came a tear.

You know, it was a moment -- a very unique and emotional moment.

So Esa-Pekka wrote a piece that he dedicated to Pancho... [ Laughter ] called "Fog," that we played immediately after the "Partita."

As you saw, inspire by the "Partita" by Bach, but in a beautiful and very sensitive journey of that beautiful music, you know, created by Esa-Pekka.

And we have the chance also to work with a wonderful, amazing and unique, an icon dancer, Lucinda Childs... [ Cheers and applause ] ...which also is a very good friend of Pancho.

[ Laughter ] So now we keep the journey going, moving forward.

And Frank is a big classical music lover, but also a jazz lover.

And tonight we have a beautiful journey where we will have our creative chair for jazz, Herbie Hancock, who is a good friend, too... [ Cheers and applause ] ...playing some of his most magic music.

Follow by the wonderful, unique, young artist, H.E.R... [ Cheers and applause ] ...that will sing for us two beautiful songs.

So let's keep the journey moving forward.

[ Cheers and applause ] Let's welcome Herbie Hancock.

[ Cheers and applause ] -As the L.A. Phil's creative chair for jazz, Herbie Hancock has been part of the Walt Disney Concert Hall family since its inaugural season, 20 years ago.

Continuing with Dudamel's aquatic theme, Hancock will perform a special arrangement of his landmark jazz composition "Maiden Voyage."

[ Symphony orchestra plays soft music ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Piano plays mid-tempo jazz ] ♪♪ [ Jazz orchestra plays mid-tempo jazz ] ♪♪ [ Symphony and jazz orchestras play mid-tempo jazz ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Music softens ] [ Music fades ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Herbie Hancock, joined by members of his band and the L.A. Phil, performed an arrangement of "Maiden Voyage," first heard here in 2017.

[ Cheers and applause continue ] Hancock's six-decade career transcends genre.

He had the first jazz album to go platinum, a hit single on the dance and R&B charts, and a multi-artist tribute to Joni Mitchell that won the Grammy Awards Album of the Year.

[ Applause ] Hancock and Dudamel return to the stage.

They will be joined next by another Grammy Award winner -- R&B singer and songwriter H.E.R.

-- for a performance of the blues song "Make it Rain."

[ Applause ] [ Rain pouring ] [ Thunder rumbling ] [ Symphony orchestra plays soft music ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ When the sins of my father ♪ ♪ Weigh down in my soul ♪ [ Piano plays ] ♪ And the pain of my mother ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh ♪ ♪ Will not let me go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I know there can come fire from the sky ♪ ♪ To refine the purest of kings, yeah ♪ ♪ Mmm mmm ♪ ♪ Even though I know this fire brings me pain ♪ ♪ Even so, and just the same, yeah ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain down, Lord ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain down, yeah ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain down on me ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain ♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Electric guitar plays ] [ Scatting ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain down on me ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain down on me ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it rain down on me ♪ ♪ Make it rain, make it ♪ ♪ Yeah-eah-eah ♪ ♪ Yeah-eah-eah-eah ♪ ♪ Make it rain ♪ -♪ Rain ♪ -♪ Make it rain, make it rain, ♪ ♪ Make i-i-it rain ♪ ♪ Make it rain ♪ ♪ Make it rai-ai-ai-ai-n ♪ [ Crowd cheering softly ] [ Sighs ] ♪ Make ♪ ♪ Ma-a-a-ke i-it rai-ai-ai-n ♪ [ Finale plays ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, Herbie Hancock, for playing with me.

[ Cheers and applause ] -H.E.R.

played her first-ever full orchestra concerts with the L.A. Phil in 2021.

This gala occasion marks her first time performing with Herbie Hancock.

Hancock departs the stage, and H.E.R.

stays on to perform her recent single "The Journey."

-Hello, everyone.

I'm so happy to be here.

And I want to thank you, Gustavo, for letting me play with you once again and for all of these amazing musicians.

I cannot believe I'm standing next to you again.

It's an honor.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Symphony orchestra plays soft music ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ ♪ All the times you thought you'd never make it through ♪ ♪ Felt just like the world just turned its back on you ♪ ♪ Didn't stop you ♪ ♪ All the times you could've given in and given up ♪ ♪ Times you didn't know if you were strong enough ♪ ♪ Still you got through ♪ ♪ Somehow it's all part of the plan ♪ ♪ The journey ♪ ♪ The journey ♪ ♪ The journey ♪ ♪ It's the journey ♪ ♪ It's the getting there to where you're going to ♪ ♪ Going through hell ♪ ♪ But still you're gonna make it through ♪ ♪ It's the fire that they can't put out inside ♪ ♪ It's a hell of a ride ♪ ♪ All the times they thought ♪ ♪ That they could hold you back ♪ ♪ But you've always known there was no chance of that ♪ ♪ You're made too strong ♪ ♪ And when you're going with your heart, you can go ♪ ♪ Further than you'd ever thought possible ♪ ♪ Prove them all wrong ♪ ♪ It's a part of a bigger plan ♪ ♪ The journey ♪ ♪ The journey ♪ ♪ The journey-ey ♪ ♪ It's the journey ♪ ♪ It's the getting there to where you're going to ♪ ♪ Going through hell ♪ ♪ But still you're gonna make it through ♪ ♪ It's the fire that they can't put out inside ♪ ♪ It's a hell of a ride ♪ -♪ Oh oh oh ♪ -♪ Every step you take ♪ ♪ Is one more step put on the way ♪ ♪ On the journey ♪ ♪ The journey-ey ♪ ♪ The journey-ey, yeah ♪ ♪ It's the journey ♪ ♪ It's the getting there to where you're going to ♪ ♪ Going through hell ♪ ♪ But still you're gonna make it through ♪ ♪ It's the fire that they can't put out inside ♪ ♪ It's a hell of a ride ♪ ♪ It's the journey ♪ ♪ It's the getting there to where you're going to ♪ ♪ Going through hell ♪ ♪ But still you're gonna make it through ♪ ♪ It's the fire that they can't put out inside ♪ ♪ It's a hell of a ride ♪ ♪ It's the journey-ey ♪ ♪ Oh, the journey, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪ ♪ Oh, the journey-ey-ey-ey ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪ ♪ Oh, the journey ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪ [ Music fades ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

Thank you.

-H.E.R.

's titanic vocal power filled Walt Disney Concert Hall as she delivered a resounding performance of her hit song "The Journey."

[ Cheers and applause continue ] The final reflection on our gala theme, "The Play of Water," is next.

Gustavo Dudamel returns to stage to lead the L.A. Phil in a performance of Claude Debussy's "La Mer."

[ Cheers and applause ] Debussy's work is comprised of three symphonic sketches, each one characterizing the mutability of the sea.

The maestro takes us out to sea for a fitting finale.

[ Symphony orchestra plays soft music ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] Gustavo Dudamel led the L.A. Phil in Debussy's "La Mer," a performance that in keeping with our programmatic theme has washed over this gala audience and kept them on their feet.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] And what better place for music lovers to be as Claude Debussy wrote, "The sea is really the thing in nature which best puts you in your place."

[ Cheers and applause continues ] Frank Gehry, the gala honoree, takes his rightful place, center stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Loud cheering ] The Maestro positions a seat for Gehry close to the podium and orchestra for an encore featuring one of the most iconic parts of Gehry's design.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] -[ Chuckles ] Frank is going to sing... No, that's to true [ Laughter ] He requested that 20 years ago, and still we are -- you are in the list to song here.

Okay?

But, tonight, you are... -"O Canada."

"O Canada."

[ Laughs ] Well, we -- we cannot, you know, finish this night with this -- you know, inside of this amazing place, having this journey through Bach through Salonen, Herbie Hancock, H.E.R., Debussy.

And because we have an instrument here that's not obvious, but it's that thing there... [ Laughter ] ...called Hurricane Mama is the name of the -- of the organ.

So we will play a little treat for you with Paul Jacobs that is joining us.

[ Cheers and applause ] You want to hear from here?

Yeah.

And Pancho will judge us.

[ Laughter ] [ Laughter ] [ Laughter ] Berta, what do you think?

[ Cheering ] Yeah?

[ Applause ] [ Laughter ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Confetti cannons fire ] [ Audience exclaims, applauds ] ♪♪ [ Confetti cannons fire ] [ Audience exclaims, applauds ] ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Confetti cannons fire ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Gustavo Dudamel's gala program, "The Play of Water," is capped off with streams of confetti over audience and stage.

Paul Jacobs is a Grammy Award-winning organist.

He performed the Poulenc organ concerto from Disney Hall's organ loft, bringing the concert full circle.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] This gala celebration comes to a joyous close.

94-year-old Frank Gehry departs the stage honored as the L.A. Phil's treasured collaborator and the architectural visionary of their beloved home.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] Returning to the stage, the gala's special guests join Dudamel and the orchestra for applause and final bows.

The outlook is bright for a new season at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with inspired collaborations and adventurous voyages ahead.

[ Cheers and applause continues ] To find out more, visit pbs.org/greatperformances.

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