LA Phil Teams with LA Opera to Bring ‘Alice and Wonderland’ to Walt Disney Concert Hall

Everyone knows the classic tale of the little girl who fell through a looking glass and down a rabbit hole. But it’s time to fall for “Alice and Wonderland” all over again. The LA Philharmonic production of “Alice and Wonderland,” answers the classic Lewis Carroll tale with an operatic explosion Feb. 27 and 28 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

By definition, theatre is a collaborative art form. For a production to come to fruition, artists of many mediums must work in tandem to ensure a production unfolds as intended live in front of an audience. “Alice in Wonderland,” at the LA Philharmonic is in no way a small-scale theatrical event. Under the masterful direction of director and designer Netia Jones, seemingly disparate elements intricately weave together onstage. The show features the imaginative and fantastical composition of Unsuk Chin and a libretto lifted from the original words of Lewis Carroll by librettist David Henry Hwang. Opera singers dressed in stunning costumes take to the stage, supported by projections of the gonzo illustrations “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” by visual artist, Ralph Steadman.

Chin is an almost exclusively self-taught musician. Growing up in South Korea, she learned the basics of theory and piano from her father before formally studying avant-garde Western composition and electronic music at Seoul National University. Her background allows for a playful kind of composition in which the best of Western and non-European influences come together to create innovative orchestrations. Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki will conduct the LA Phil premiere. Mälkki began her career as a cellist, but is better known for her work conducting opera around the world as well as her mastery of contemporary music. Mälkki was recently appointed Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and will take the position in 2016.

The “Alice in Wonderland” concert is part of the new LA Philharmonic in/SIGHT series, which combines music from groundbreaking new composers with the work of visual artists. “Alice in Wonderland” is also presented in collaboration with LA Opera.

“Alice and Wonderland,” presented by LA Philharmonic in collaboration with LA Opera will be at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Feb. 27 & 28. Tickets available here.