Nothing says summer has officially arrived in Los Angeles better than enjoying a family concert under the stars at the city’s historic Hollywood Bowl venue. Toon lovers get a special treat this weekend when Warner Bros. presents the world premiere of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II event at the Bowl on Friday (July 5) and Saturday (July 6) at 8 p.m.
The concert will feature performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic led by Emmy-winning creator and conductor George Daugherty. Among the music planned the evening are original scores by Carl W. Stalling, Milt Franklyn and Scott Bradley based on works by Wagner, Rossini, von Suppé, J. Strauss II, Smetana, and Liszt, while iconic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes are displayed on the Hollywood Bowl’s giant new LED screens.
This 2013 edition of the concert features some of our favorite Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts on display on the big screen. There’s nothing quite like catching Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, Tweety, Sylvester, and others in this unique surrounding. Classic cartoons such as What’s Opera, Doc? (1957), The Rabbit of Seville (1950) and Duck Amuck (1953) are on tap as well as two recent 3-D, CG-animated Warner Bros. efforts—the 2011 short I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat and 2010’s Coyote Falls (both directed by Matthew O’Callaghan, with scores by Christopher Lennertz). There’s also a special appearance by “Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl!”
“A big reason that I score movies is because movie music is something I remember really fondly from being a kid,” composer Christopher Lennertz said in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I would submerge myself in the characters I loved and play the music along with them. Looney Tunes was definitely a part of that.”
Tickets are still available for both nights. You can check www.Hollywoodbowl.com or www.Ticketmaster.com for more info.
Here are a couple of clips to whet your appetite for the evening:
