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Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

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Disney opens futuristic concert hall

Disney opens futuristic concert hall

The new industrial strength concert hall is amazing from the outside. With its sleek and shiny futuristic metal structure, the concert hall is sure to bring in tourists and music lovers everywhere.

On Oct. 4, I was given a sneak peak at the new Walt Disney Concert Hall that will be opening on Oct. 23 with an opening gala concert. The concert hall is in the heart of Los Angeles, located right next door to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion off of Grand Avenue and Second Street.

From the stainless steel curves of its striking exterior, to the state-of-the-art acoustics of the hardwood-paneled main auditorium, the 3.6-acre complex embodies the unique energy and creative spirit of the city of Los Angeles and its orchestra.

The concert hall is the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world.

It was initially built with the vision of the late Lillian Disney. She gave a $50 million to build a world-class performance venue as a gift to the people of Los Angeles and a tribute to Walt Disney’s devotion to the arts.

Others began to donate totaling the number to over a $100 million to make the dream come true. It took about 16 years to finish the whole structure.

The day of the sneak peak was filled with people from all over the country. The ones that got to view the hall as guests were primarily season ticket holders.

From the six levels under ground parking structure, the escalators take you right into the main entrance of the hall. The majority of the hall is made up of all wood floors and walls. There are many glass windows all over the inside portion of the building and also stainless steel.

The concert hall has 2265 seats. Frank Gehry designed it in collaboration with renowned acousticians Yasuhisa Toyota and Minoru Nagata of Nagata Acoustics.

The groundbreaking “vineyard” shape of the Hall with its curved wood ceiling will retain the superb acoustical characteristics of a traditional “shoebox” style concert hall, while allowing more flexibility in architectural design.

The inside of the entrance looks contemporary, but once you walk into the main hall auditorium, one of the first things you see is the giant organ that is the main focus of the hall. The hall is four levels high with seating all the way around the orchestra pit.

Other design highlights of the main auditorium include hardwood walls and ceilings made of Douglas Fir — the same wood often used on the backs of cellos and violas — and a large 36-foot-high rear window and skylights that will allow natural light to enhance daytime concerts.

The Hall also will encompass two outdoor amphitheaters; a theater for children’s programming seating up to 300 children or 200 adults, and a second performing space that will accommodate an audience of 120 and a hall for pre-concert events.The hall will also have a restaurant, gift shop, and café.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall will open on Oct. 23. To get more information about the music center log on to www.laphil.com.

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Alicia Edquist, Staff Writer
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Disney opens futuristic concert hall