KCET, Southern California’s home for award-winning public media programming, today announced IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, a new weekly music series produced in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. On May 13, the 2020 season of the Hollywood Bowl was officially cancelled for the first time in its 98-year history in an effort to protect artists, audiences and staff from the spread of COVID-19.
This new television series will allow viewers to experience iconic moments from the LA Phil archives at the Hollywood Bowl, since attending in-person is currently not an option. Six episodes featuring the “best of” live performances from the past 10 years at the Bowl will be hosted by LA Phil’s Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL premieres on Wed., August 19, at 9 p.m. PT on KCET, will encore beginning Fri., August 21 at 8 p.m. PT on PBS SoCal and runs through the end of September (roughly the same time the summer concert season at the Bowl typically ends). The program will be broadcast to PBS Stations nationwide in early 2021.
Each week, viewers will be transported to a front-row seat with unprecedented access to musical performances and appearances from a star-studded lineup that includes Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Natalia Lafourcade, Los Angeles Azules, La Santa Cecilia, Misty Copeland, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Kamasi Washington, Herbie Hancock Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman Santana, Wayne Shorter, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Vin Scully, Carlos Vives, Café Tacvba, Pink Martini, Thomas Wilkins, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Diego El Cigala, John Williams and many more.
The Hollywood Bowl summer roster always features a broad variety of artists and genres, showcasing a roster of world-class artists ranging from classical and pop to jazz, rock, and world music. The new series features the return of legendary Hollywood Bowl favorites, as well as acclaimed artists making their Hollywood Bowl debuts while celebrating the music from a diverse array of cultures and communities around the world.
“The LA Phil is an iconic institution and experiencing the summer concert series at the Hollywood Bowl is an unforgettable moment for so many Angelenos. We are excited that this collaboration will help bring arts and culture to millions of viewers at home during a time when it’s needed most by our community,” said Chief Creative Officer of KCET Juan Devis. “Southern California is home to one of the most important cultural communities in the world, and we have an undeniably important responsibility to share these iconic performances from past years with the community and with audiences nationwide.”
President of the Hollywood Bowl and Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Gail Samuel said, “KCET plays a vital role in the cultural life of Southern California—they have been telling our stories for more than 50 years. When the Hollywood Bowl went dark for the first time in its nearly century-long history as a result of the pandemic, we were devastated, as were the thousands of families who have made the Bowl a summertime tradition for generations. With KCET’s partnership, we will be able to have a Hollywood Bowl season after all—right in the living rooms of music fans here in Southern California and across the country.”
Upcoming episodes of IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL will air as follows (subject to change):
Wed., Aug. 19 at 9 p.m.: “Hecho en Mexico” (“Made in Mexico”)
Featuring Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing Marquez‘s El Nereidas de Dimas, Rodrigo y Gabriela with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, Natalia Lafourcade with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, Los Angeles Azules with YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), andLa Santa Cecilia.
Wed., Aug. 26 at 9 p.m.: “Gustavo and Friends”
Featuring Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing excerpts from Swan Lake with Misty Copeland, Pablo Ferrández, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philperforming a selection from Dvorak‘s Cello Concerto, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing Copland‘s Fanfare for the Common Man, as well as Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil, Amanda Majeski, J’Nai Bridges, Issachah Savage, Ryan Speedo Green and the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC) performing the finale to Beethoven‘s Symphony No. 9.
Wed., Sept. 2 at 9 p.m.: “Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl”
Featuring Dianne Reeves with Ivan Lins, Christian McBride, Chucho Valdes, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Kamasi Washington and Mega Nova (Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter).
Wed., Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.: “Musicals and the Movies”
Featuring Kristin Chenoweth with Kevin Stites and the LA Phil, Audra McDonald with Bramwell Tovey and the LA Phil, Sutton Foster with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil.
Wed., Sept. 16 at 9 p.m.: “Música Sin Fronteras” (“Music Without Borders”)
Featuring Vin Scully, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, Carlos Vives, Café Tacvba, and Siudy Garrido Flamenco Dance Theater with the LA Phil and conducted by Paolo Bortolameolli in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Wed., Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.: “Fireworks!”
Featuring Pink Martini, Thomas Wilkins, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Diego El Cigala, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil performing a selection from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, plus John Williams and the LA Phil performing music from Star Wars.
The new series IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL will be included in a robust Wednesday night of programming for KCET designed to highlight the resilience of the arts community. Under the theme “Create Wednesday,” the schedule will also feature popular Arts and Culture programs that have previously aired on KCET and PBS that include KCET’s Emmy award-winning Original arts series ARTBOUND and student film showcase FINE CUT as well as America’s preeminent performing arts television series from PBS, GREAT PERFORMANCES.
The lineup also includes the new local weekly series SOUTHLAND SESSIONS which celebrates the creativity and spirit of Los Angeles’ arts and culture communities by featuring a diverse spectrum of content from a variety of prominent voices from around Southern California for up-close, virtual “sessions.”
One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922 and plays host to the finest artists from all genres of music, offering something for everyone. In February 2018, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the 14th year in a row at the 29th Annual Pollstar Awards, and in November 2018 was awarded the Top Amphitheater prize at the 2018 Billboard Live Music Awards for the second consecutive year. For millions of music lovers across Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with summer.
For updates, follow @KCET @LAPhil and #InConcertAtTheHollywoodBowl on social media.
