Hollywood Bowl conductors hope to win friends and influence people

Classical audiences used to groan when someone approached the front of the stage to address them at the beginning of a concert. It usually meant the star attraction had canceled. But that has changed. These days in L.A., such an appearance might mean that Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. President Deborah Borda is about to introduce a new orchestra member, or that Philharmonic Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen is going to wittily prepare listeners for, say, the loudest orchestral work in the repertoire.

By Rick Schultz

July 6, 2008