Symphony: Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall

by Frank Gehry, Grant Mudford (Photographer), Deborah Borda (Preface by)

Symphony, which includes an introduction by Gehry, traces the history of the Concert Hall from its inception through completion in four illuminating essays and stunning photographs by acclaimed architectural photographer Grant Mudford. Authors Richard Koshalek and Dana Hutt describe the dramatic journey beginning with an unprecedented gift of $50 million in 1988 from the late Lillian Disney, widow of Walt Disney, for a new home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to final construction of the building. Carol McMichael Reese explores the planning of the Concert Hall in relation to a century of efforts to make Downtown Los Angeles the economic and cultural hub of the city. Architecture critic and writer Michael Webb eloquently describes the artistry and complex engineering of this unique structure. And Esa-Pekka Salonen, music director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, recounts his first impressions of Gehry and the architectural models for the new building in an essay that also defines what makes a great orchestra and a world-class concert hall.
Attracting visitors from around the world, Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most important and innovative buildings of recent years. Symphony brings its story to all those interested in modern architecture and the vitality of classical music.

Genres: Architecture

176 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

Frank Owen Gehry (28 February, 1929 - 5 December, 2025) was a Canadian-born architect and designer.

Gehry is known for his postmodern designs and use of bold, unconventional forms and materials. His most famous works include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.

Reviews

[Nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insights into LA development, what was planned, and what there is today.

Well-researched and well written, beautiful photographs on high-quality paper.