For the third consecutive year, the José Iturbi Foundation is a sponsor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and is supporting this year’s John Williams: Maestro of the Movies Concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30, at 8 PM. Williams, the incomparable film composer, returns to conduct many of his most beloved movie hits, including music from Star Wars, and to pay tribute to some of the classic stars. Williams is joined by special guest Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, Ted).
The José Iturbi Foundation (JIF) honors legendary concert pianist and conductor José Iturbi, who made his first appearance as a premier performer at the Hollywood Bowl more than 50 years ago and continued to perform to sold-out audiences at the Bowl for more than four decades.
“Iturbi is considered the classical music’s ‘rock star’ of his generation during Hollywood’s glamour years of the 1930’s and 40’s,” said Donelle Dadigan, President and Co-Founder of the José Iturbi Foundation. “The Foundation is dedicated to ‘popularizing classical music one note at a time.’ We are thrilled to perpetuate this special relationship with the José Iturbi Foundation and the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.”
A world famous concert pianist and conductor, Iturbi was the first musician to sell 1,000,000 copies of a record - Frédéric Chopin’s Military Polonaise in 1950, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to commemorate this milestone. In addition to Iturbi performing to sold-out audiences worldwide, he also appeared in films as ‘himself’ to help classical music become more enjoyable and accessible to the public and its younger generations. One of Iturbi’s most popular films is the MGM classic, Anchors Aweigh (1945), starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.
“Besides supporting classical music performances featuring world-class concert artists, the José Iturbi Foundation showcases the world's greatest classical music talent of tomorrow,” said Dadigan. JIF sponsors competitions held at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall, awarding more than $250,000 at each competition. “Our $50,000 first prize is the largest cash prize awarded at any classical music competition in the world,” she adds.
The José Iturbi Foundation will also present a special historic photo presentation on the Hollywood Bowl’s large screens prior to the concert, spanning Iturbi’s life, talents and his past Hollywood Bowl performances with Hollywood’s music celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante, Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson, and more. For information about JIF please visit: JoseIturbiFoundation.org.
