The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced that this summer’s Hollywood Bowl season is now officially cancelled.  In an email sent to donors, LA Phil CEO Chad Smith noted that “for the first time in its almost century-long history, the Hollywood Bowl will be silent this summer.” 

The announcement is hardly a surprise given the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme caution health and government officials in Los Angeles County and California in general are re-opening all aspects of public life, with large gatherings such as concerts being one of the last things to be green lit.

Ticket holders are being asked to donate some or all of the value of their tickets back to the Los Angeles Philharmonic to help offset the considerable loss of revenue caused by the cancellations. As Mr. Smith states,

With the loss of the summer season, the LA Phil faces unprecedented financial strain and must now take additional steps to mitigate its impact, including the furloughing of approximately 25% of our full-time staff, as well as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra through September 30, 2020, and is laying off seasonal Hollywood Bowl employees. Prior to these decisions, we reduced all non-essential expenses, laid off part-time employees, instituted salary reductions of 35% for Musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and staff, and made the decision to draw from our endowment.

The LA Phil is also allowing subscribers to maintain a credit on their account to be used at the Hollywood Bowl, the John Anson Ford Theatre (aka “The Ford”), and even Walt Disney Concert Hall through 2021; normally, credits from ticket exchanges are only valid through the end of the particular season for which the tickets were purchased.  If none of those options are acceptable to the ticket holder, the LA Phil will issue refunds.

The full press release of this announcements is HERE.

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Photo credit:  courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic