While NYC was celebrating the opening of City Ballet with a Fall Gala (post below), the West Coast was simultaneously toasting the opening of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's new season with a banging party that brought out a colorful mix of celebrities, artists, and socialites to Walt Disney Concert Hall -- Michael Eisner, Neil Diamond, Frank Gehry, and Maggie Seaver (a.k.a Joanna Kerns).
Gustavo Dudamel, in his second opening night with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was accompanied by (pregnant) wife, Eloísa, who was in company of Juan Diego Flórez's wife, Julia. The two first ladies of classical music worked the red carpet while their husbands worked the stage.
The first half was a melange of Rossini overatures (La Gazza Ladra and Semiramide) with soloist Juan Diego Flórez singing arias from two Rossini arias. Flórez worked the whole Latino pride thing after the break with Chabuca Granda's Peruvian classic La Flor de la Canela, followed by Mexican and Venezuelan songs. He encored with his show-stopping Ah Mes Amis from La Fille and La Donna è Mobile from Rigoletto.
(Above: Eloísa and Julia)
Follow fierce byotches Ann Rutherford and Anne Jeffreys inside for more fabulousness from opening night!
Above: Eva Mendes
(Above: Herbie Hancock and wife Gigi)
(Above: Neil Diamond!!)
Above: Socialite Betsy Bloomingdale)
(Above and below: Eloísa and Julia)
(Above: Mrs. Gustavo Dudamel)
(Above: Mrs. Juan Diego Florez)
(Above: Joanna Kerns)