LaBelle Wasn’t at Fault

I need to comment on the so-called Patti LaBelle concert, and the letters addressing it (Calendar Letters, Aug. 23). I say “so-called” because the bulk of the evening was the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra playing a lot of “Americana”--including “Dixie.”

The Bowl programmers are either extraordinarily arrogant or woefully out of touch. The show was choreographed with complete ignorance or disregard for whom Patti LaBelle’s audience is and what they look forward to. They are not into “Dixie.” Rows and rows of total strangers bonded together during the medley of quaint orchestra musical choices wondering out loud, “Is this supposed to be her concert or is it a generic holiday event?,” “Why are they playing this music?” and “How can the sound system be this awful?” Many people wandered out wondering what they had just attended. And it wasn’t because Patti LaBelle was at fault!

Until this show, I was unaware of the elitist audience that makes up the Bowl’s core patrons. Perhaps they should consider catering solely to them. Because they have made it abundantly clear that shows there are about the Bowl and not about the artist or the music lovers who support that artist.

LORRIE MARLOW, West Hollywood