Remember the Gray Hairs

In Monday’s article “What’s Not Happening at the Pavilion” (by Mike Boehm), Music Center board of directors chair Andrea Van de Kamp says: “We can serve aging gray hairs or be thoughtful and get the kind of diversity and intensity we want the center to represent.” Diversity and loss of hair color are not mutually exclusive, Ms. Van de Kamp.

My graying head has seen great “diversity” (ethnic and gender-based) among “aging gray hairs” loyally attending L.A. Philharmonic concerts at the Pavilion for decades. The AGHs, in fact, make up the bulk of the audience that supports the orchestra. Maybe you should be more “thoughtful” about that!

And you wonder how to fill the Phil’s vacancy? Easy: Put the excellent Pasadena Symphony in there under the articulate baton of Jorge Mester. But be careful not to book them when showboat Esa-Pekka Salonen is flailing at the L.A. band, as none of the AGHs will show up at Disney Hall.

JOY A. CHUCK

West Los Angeles

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All of us in Greater Los Angeles who love ballet have been eagerly awaiting the inauguration of Disney Hall so that dance can again be presented at the Pavilion, an ideal house for major ballet companies.

Van de Kamp’s expression of a need “to be extremely cautious in booking” belies an unnecessary timidity on her part. If I recall correctly, for several years she was a director of the Music Center Operating Company, which, in association with Music Center Dance Presentations, over a 15-year period presented two yearly seasons of the American Ballet Theatre, plus the Royal Ballet, the Kirov, the Bolshoi, the Cuban Ballet, Stuttgart, the Royal Danish and others.

These bookings were extremely successful, both artistically and financially.

Van de Kamp should take advantage of the unique facilities provided by the Chandler Pavilion, along with her past experience, and reenact the very successful formula used then.

CLARA YUST

Los Angeles

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It is quite pathetic that the elitists of L.A. have forsaken the still-gorgeous Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the ugly Disney Hall.

Did L.A. need Disney Hall? No. There was and is nothing wrong with the Pavilion. It’s an architectural icon of the 1960s, and it staged a variety of wonderful performances for all to enjoy. It was always a special event attending a performance at the Music Center.

Did no one think ahead to the future of the Pavilion with the Garish Hall across the street? Even if they did, obviously no one cared. And now, the Pavilion may lie fallow--but it will still cast a giant shadow over the hideous Disney across the street.

STEPHANY YABLOW

Sherman Oaks