Opening night photos October 23, 2003

Guests take in the architecture and festivities as they arrive for the grand opening concert and gala.  (Gary Friedman / LAT)

Champagne reception at Walt Disney Concert Hall.  (Gary Friedman / LAT)

Liza Minnelli with Yossi Dina as they arrive at the concert hall.  (Lawrence K. Ho / LAT)

Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic on the new stage inside Walt Disney Concert Hall at the gala opening concert Thursday night.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

Singer Diane Reeves sings the National Anthem at the opening of the “Sonic L.A.” concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.  (Anacleto Rapping / LAT)

Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen acknowledges the audience before starting the music.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

A musician tunes his violin backstage.  (Anacleto Rapping / LAT)

Principal concertmaster Martin Chalifour plays Bach in the opening instrumental act.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

Disney Chairman Michael Eisner (center) sits alongside Candice Bergen (right) during the opening night performance.  (Anacleto Rapping / LAT)

Esa-Pekka Salonen leaves the stage at the end of the concert.  (Anacleto Rapping / LAT)

Philharmonic Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and Architect Frank Gehry acknowledge the crowd at the beginning of post-concert festivities.  (Anacleto Rapping / LAT)

Party tents were set up along Grand Avenue in front of Disney Hall for opening night guests. Clear plastic on the top of the tents allowed the groups to see fireworks displays around the building after 10 p.m.  (Anacleto Rapping / LAT)

Los Angeles philanthropist Eli Broad, right, with former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca at the concert hall gala. Broad jump-started the concert hall project after the effort stalled in the mid-nineties.  (Lawrence K. Ho / LAT)

Frank Gehry (right) being congratulated at the party after the opening night performance. Current Disney Chairman Michael Eisner is at the left.  (Lawrence K. Ho / LAT)

Fireworks showed off the striking lines of Walt Disney Concert Hall after the opening night gala Thursday.  (Al Seib / LAT)

Fireworks light sky above Walt Disney Concert Hall at the conclusion of the opening night gala.  (Al Seib / LAT)

Grand opening at the new Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

Opening night performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

Guests arrive for the concert gala at the new Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / LAT)

Singer Diane Reeves arrives for the grand opening concert gala at the new Walt Disney Concert Hall.  (Gary Friedman / LAT)

Post performance party with Yasuhisa Toyota, left, architect Frank Gehry and Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen toasting Disney Hall.  (Lawrence K. Ho / LAT)

Patrons gather at the post-performance party next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  (Lawrence K. Ho / LAT)