Page 136 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS

FORGET THE SYDNEY
OPERA HOUSE?

THE BUILD-UP Perhaps the most recognizable
symbol of an entire continent, the Sydney
Walt Disney Concert world’s most famous performing arts venues.
Opera House is, without question, one of the
Perched majestically on Sydney Harbour, the
Hall, Los Angeles complex is the city’s most-visited tourist spot,
with crowds snapping photos at all hours.

THE LETDOWN A visit to the Opera House is
rarely a relaxing experience. With roughly 1,500
vs Sydney Opera House performances held annually throughout the
complex’s five main venues, it is clogged with
tourists and concert-goers at most hours.
Visitors taking one of the facility’s tours are not
A classical music venue in step with the 21st century, the Walt Disney Concert Hall guaranteed a glimpse of the Concert Hall or
provides a captivating modern alternative to older venues like the Sydney Opera House Opera Theatre, as accessibility depends on
performance schedules.
GOING ANYWAY? For unhurried photo ops,
Upon its completion in 2003, the Disney revitalized
NEED TO KNOW visit during the early morning, when tourists are
downtown Los Angeles, taking the focus away still not about and performances are rarely held.
LOCATION South Grand Avenue, from its faded municipal buildings and making it a
downtown Los Angeles, USA $ "/"%" Opt for the more economical lunch at one of
4FBUUMF key stop on the international classical music circuit.
CONSTRUCTION the venue’s five eateries, over the pricier
1999–2003 But for those who prefer Madonna to Mozart, the dinner service.
/FX :PSL $JUZ
ACCESS Auditorium is 4BO 'SBODJTDP 6 4 " building also holds plenty of pop culture
ticket only; guided tours 8BTIJOHUPO % $ significance, having featured in such movies as
of building available -04 "/(&-&4
Iron Man and Get Smart. Designed by Frank Gehry,
DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES the Disney is commonly thought of as a smaller
Jan: 55°F (13°C); Apr: 61°F (16°C); .&9*$0 version of his iconic Guggenheim Bilbao (see p134).
Jul: 72°F (22°C); Oct: 64°F (18°C)
The concert hall provides its visitors with the
opportunity to experience a key work of this
Upon stepping inside the Walt Disney Concert modern architectural master. The Sydney Opera
Hall, one cannot help but be swept up in its House’s architect, Jørn Utzon, has unfortunately
architectural grandeur. Full of odd angles, seen his legacy limited only to that project. ABOVE Visitors gathered outside one of Australia’s most
seductive curves, and yawning windows that draw As much as its architectural splendor, the popular tourist sights, the Sydney Opera House
in the California sunshine, this gleaming metal-clad Disney is also admired for its superb acoustics.
building looks every inch the world-class cultural Classical music aficionados leave the concert hall
center. First-time visitors often regret arriving raving about the Disney’s sound qualities, which
so close to show time, wishing they had more simply cannot be matched by the Opera House,
time to explore the labyrinthine corridors and which was completed some 30 years earlier. Gehry PRACTICAL INFORMATION
breathtaking features of Frank Gehry’s metallic consulted the Los Angeles Philharmonic during
Getting There and Around Where to Stay
wonderland. By comparison, with its white-tiled the design process, and the results are sonically
International flights to Los Downtown Los Angeles provides
exterior and repetitive curves, the Sydney Opera breathtaking. Even those sitting in the upper Angeles land at LA International numerous hotel options; the
House seems better suited to the 1970s, the reaches of the hall’s 2,265 seats enjoy crystal-clear Airport (LAX), which is 16 miles Hilton Checkers Hotel (www.
decade of its contruction. acoustics, with sound perfectly reverberating off (26 km) from downtown. If you hilton.com) is conveniently
custom-designed Douglas fir and oak planks. take a cab, the Walt Disney located on South Grand Avenue,
Concert Hall is 30 minutes away, a short walk from the Disney.
You don’t need to attend a performance to
depending on traffic. If, however,
appreciate the building’s cultural and architectural you prefer to use the city’s When to Go
significance. Free guided tours, offered nearly every efficient Metro Rail service, the LA enjoys perfect weather
through the year. Visitors keen to
day, encourage the public to come and study the concert hall is located just a enjoy the Disney should check
complex – one of LA’s biggest cultural bargains. short walk from the Red Line the venue’s events schedule to
Civic Center Metro stop.
The Disney is at the forefront of a new breed see when Philharmonic
of concert halls, where a visitor is just as likely to Where to Eat performances or other special
The complex’s primary restaurant,
see a school group roaming the halls as a gaggle events will be taking place.
Patina (tel. +1 213 972 3331)
of dressed-up patrons. With its progressive serves gourmet French- Budget per Day for Two
programs and foothold in LA’s cultural scene, the Californian fare amid undulating US$475, including 4-star
accommodations, dining out,
Disney beckons visitors who want to stay ahead walls and ceilings. Chef’s menus and performance tickets.
of the curve. It surely won’t be long before the are available, there is both a
lunch and dinner service, and Website
Disney takes its rightful place among the world’s
seasonal tasting sessions. www.laphil.com
ABOVE The concert hall in downtown Los Angeles lit up at night premier concert halls.

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