The Hollywood Bowl is back, with a 2021 season that includes Christina Aguilera, Yo-Yo Ma, and Viola Davis.
“Following the latest public health and reopening guidelines from Los Angeles County, the LA Phil will offer more than 50 performances, including 14 concerts with Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel,” the announcement states. “From classical music to pop, reggae, jazz and film, the season showcases acclaimed artists and the return of numerous Bowl favorites.
The Bowl is the latest venue to embrace a COVID-19 vaccine requirement program.”
The Hollywood Bowl will reopen to the public with its traditional July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, this year featuring Kool & the Gang and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra led by Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins (July 3, 4).
The sing-a-long musical in August will be the Sound of Music with host Melissa Peterman (August 21). The Tchaikovsky Spectacular with all the works—fireworks, bells and cannons—returns (August 6, 7). This year’s movies under the stars will be a trio of fantasy crowd pleasers: the world premiere of an orchestral arrangement of Mark Knopfler’s score for The Princess Bride (LA Phil, conducted by David Newman, July 31), Black Panther, the first Marvel movie to be screened with live orchestral accompaniment (LA Phil, September 10–12) and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert (Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Justin Freer, September 17).
The best seats will be reserved for the fully vaccinated. The Bowl announced that 85-percent of the seats at the storied amphitheater will be accessible only to those with proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated patrons may have to make do with the seats in what is affectionately referred to as “nose-bleed alley.”
No matter where one sits, the music—whether it’s Herbie Hancock closing out the Jazz Plus series, or Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Cello Concerto with cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason—will delight. One of L.A.’s best traditions is alive and well and ready to bring down the house.
