A Selective Guide to the Arts in Los Angeles

Zubin Mehta

Zubin Mehta

File this under “hard-to-believe-but-true”: The Vienna Philharmonic has never played at Disney Hall. With all the world-class orchestras the LA Phil has been bringing in since moving to their new home in 2003, that’s a surprise. But, finally, the Vienna Phil, one of the world’s undisputed best for a century and a half, makes its debut on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and returns Wednesday, Feb. 4. Both concerts begin at 8 pm.

And that’s not all: The conductor will be LA’s beloved Zubin Mehta, who served as Music Director of the LA Phil between 1962 and 1978, and holds the title of Honorary Conductor here. Mehta is a classical superstar, having led the New York Philharmonic for 13 years and been named Music Director for life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as well as Honorary Conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Bavarian State Orchestra.

The Vienna-themed program on Tuesday will feature Wolf’s “Italian Serenade,” Marx’s “Four Songs” (with soprano Angela Maria Blasi), and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9. Wednesday brings Wagner’s “Rienzi Overture,” Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 “Great.”

As if you needed more enticement, 26-year-old Lang Lang, dubbed “the hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times, will perform the Chopin Piano Concerto (which he recently recorded with Mehta and the Vienna Phil) at Wednesday’s concert.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000, www.laphil.com