Zoo Music? Hide the Gorillas

Where does a 300-pound gorilla listen to music? Anywhere he wants to . . . unless he lives at the Los Angeles Zoo when it’s time for “Music at the Zoo.”

The gorillas will be among the few animals tucked away in their night cages while the music plays Saturday and Tuesday from 6:15 to 9 p.m.

Zoo officials have nothing against cultured apes. The gorillas just like the music so much they don’t want to come in after it’s over, according to Lora La Marca, director of education and public affairs, and who’s going to argue?

About 60% of the animals, presumably the more cooperative ones, will be out for the event. There will also be wandering jugglers, mimes and a walking puppet stage whose occupants will perform shows wherever they sit.

Saturday night is the Carnival of Music featuring the bluegrass group Phantom Hollow, the Spiffy Saxes playing Dixieland jazz, Cajun music by the Crawfish Wranglers, and the Freeway Philharmonic, an eclectic quartet that plays pop, rock, fusion, jazz and New Age.

The Freeway Philharmonic will return Tuesday, Classical and Jazz Night, along with Brazilian jazz performer Kleber Jorge, the Pacific Classical Winds, the Haddington Chamber Players, the Woodwind Duo (flute and guitar) and the John Piper Ensemble, a reggae group.

The musicians will rotate among the World of Birds Theater and the stages at Adventure Island, the African area and the North American area, next to the gorillas.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children 6 to 15. Picnicking is encouraged, and box dinners will be available for purchase. The Los Angeles Zoo is at 5333 Zoo Drive in Griffith Park.