At Walt Disney Concert Hall, Gustavo Dudamel launched the LA Phil’s indoor season with a thrilling program that fused modern innovation with timeless masterworks.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10-07-2025
The Los Angeles Philharmonic started October with a powerful musical program as Gustavo Dudamel paired Igor Stravinsky’s masterpieces with a remarkable U.S. premiere. John Adams, the creator of the new piece and one of America’s top living composers, attended this inspiring event. While the evening featured Stravinsky’s luminous The Firebird Suite and the groundbreaking The Rite of Spring, the tone was immediately set by the debut of Adams’ compelling new piece, Frenzy: a short symphony.
As the start of Gustavo Dudamel’s final season at the WDCH, the concert opened with the U.S. premiere of John Adams’ Frenzy, a 19-minute symphony composed in 2023, which served as a perfect introduction to the evening. The piece, mostly lively and energetic throughout its single movement, features a cohesive symphonic structure. What makes this composition stand out is its focus on developing small, vivid motives—an intentional, almost obsessive approach.
Furthermore, Adams’ score effectively blends two musical concepts: his earlier minimalist-inspired approach with a traditional German Durchführung, or motivic development. The rhythm remains mainly pulse-driven, while the melodic elements focus on shaping and unfolding ideas. The opening measures featured two strong gestures: a punctuated tattoo in the winds and brass, and an urgent, muscular theme in the upper strings, which Dudamel executed skillfully. The LA Phil musicians performed exceptionally here.
The music features a central, quiet section that serves as an alternative to a traditional slow movement. In this part, density and forcefulness give way to a light and transparent sound. The two harps and the celesta interact in a friendly manner, while a lyrical melody floats effortlessly above them in the strings. Maintaining a delicate balance with remarkable poise and artistry, the orchestra truly excelled.
The first half of the concert concluded with Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite (1919 version). Highlighting the orchestra’s exceptional discipline and rich tone, it showcased the best in both the musicians and the Venezuelan conductor. Dudamel led the LA Phil with sharp, detailed attention to texture; the music illuminated the hall, and the strings produced a deep, warm sound. The modern perspective provided by Frenzy acted as a thrilling prelude to the enduring brilliance of Stravinsky.
The second half of the program naturally concentrated on Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. This influential piece of modern music still retains its raw, startling power, but Adams’ new composition offered a fresh, contemporary perspective. Frenzy provided an important modern context for the 1913 classic. Adams’ score gradually builds its intense energy, reaching a peak in the final moments; this last section truly lives up to its name with vigorous, jagged string figures and frantic, scurrying woodwinds.
The transition from the new music to the classical masterpieces was smooth and deeply moving. The Rite of Spring and The Firebird Suite seemed like the natural, necessary precursors of Adams’ modern chaos. The presence of Frenzy at the start ultimately enhanced the greatness of Stravinsky’s masterpieces, showing how The Russian’s brilliance continues to influence music today. The short symphony complemented the classics perfectly, raising the entire musical conversation without overshadowing the traditional. This concert was an artistic success for everyone involved.
Of course, leading the way, Gustavo Dudamel demonstrated his top qualities on the podium, and the LA Phil played with impressive power and precise accuracy, highlighting the strengths of both Stravinsky and Adams. The program proved that new music can stand alongside legendary works and even redefine them.
This evening, marking the start of a final season, also reminded the loyal audience of how much they will miss the brilliant leadership of the Venezuelan maestro. As Dudamel begins his last season with the orchestra, this concert reminded us why his tenure has defined a golden era for the LA Phil—one that bridges the future and the past with fearless artistry.
Photos by Timothy Norris, Courtesy of the LA Phil
