Combining the talents of Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil with the wondrous vision of Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios, the fun-for-all-ages event was a huge success.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 09-04-2024
When world-class conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the Musical Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, comes on stage wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, made famous in the epic Marvel movies and used by Thanos to take out half the population of the universe, you know it is not your typical night at The Hollywood Bowl.
Indeed, the introduction to the world stage of the Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience was a special event as the end of the summer season rolled around. From the beginning to the end, it was a dynamic and exciting event perfect for all ages and the whole family.
After removing the Infinity Gauntlet and saving the universe from greater destruction, Dudamel was joined on stage by none other than Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios. Feige proves that an executive can achieve legendary status in popular culture. As the primary producer of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise since 2007, Feige has masterminded the creation of the shared superhero universe that reflects the glory days of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Based around the Avengers, the first storyline culminated in the Avengers Infinity Saga, and the concert experience was based on the films and characters that led to the final two epic films by the Russo brothers, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Before the concert could begin, however, Kevin Feige had a gift to bestow upon Gustavo Dudamel. Taking out a SHIELD Briefcase, a lovely model held it up before the famous conductor. Opening the briefcase, Dudamel found a perfectly balanced “Vibranium” conductor’s baton. Vibranium is the fictional metal in the Marvel Universe that can absorb, store, and release large amounts of kinetic energy. Only found in the Black Panther’s Kingdom of Wakanda, Vibranium is the nearly indestructible metal behind Captain America’s shield. Enjoying his new accouterment, Dudamel shook Feige’s hand and began the incredible show.
The history of the Marvel movies was shown on giant screens behind and to either side of the orchestra. Upon entering the venue, every audience member was given a wristband with an electronic light. During the Iron Man sequence, the wristbands lighted up red, adding a stunning effect and making the audience part of the show. Joy spread across countless faces as the wristbands reflected the scenes on the big screens.
During the Captain America sequence, the wristbands alternated between red, white, and blue as patriotic fireworks lit up the night sky. Moreover, dancers performed in full-period dress like Captain America in Captain America: The First Avenger. Finally, when the LA Phil performed music from Guardians of the Galaxy after the intermission, dozens of dancers came out dressed as characters from those engaging movies.
The LA Phil performed a specially created score during the concert, highlighting music from the studio’s first 23 films. It brought the audience back to their love of these movies and this cinematic universe. As Grayson Leveque, a 19-year-old astrophysics and film major at UC Santa Cruz, told The Hollywood Times about the inspiring experience of going to the show:
“I absolutely loved the Infinity Saga experience at the Hollywood Bowl. I grew up with these films, and these films and their scores are an integral part of my childhood and coming of age. I dressed up as Captain America. Captain America means so much to me because living in a world facing challenges greater than what we think we can handle, having an example of someone who holds to their integrity rather than conforming to compromising ideologies is a reminder that our fight is not over. To not only stand up to bullies but also to stand up to your friends for the sake of doing the right thing takes courage. Captain America taught a 6-year-old me that it’s important to stand up for what I believe in and remain courageous if standing up for what I believe in means standing alone.”
Like any Marvel movie, there was a surprise twist at the end. As the performance concluded, composer Michael Graciano joined the orchestra to ask the audience to stick around for “four more minutes.” Together with the LA Phil, he treated the audience to a snippet of music from the upcoming film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Overall, the night was a massive success from beginning to end, with the fireworks being awe-inspiring, lighting up the sky.
Photos by Farah Sosa Courtesy of Marvel Studios
