So much spent on a concert hall--while Ambassador Aud. sits empty! That's the real scandal and shame.

Thanks for the audio link, Kevin R. I'd never have known about it otherwise. Ahh, the advantages of the 'net!

Gee, two weeks ago, I pitched an article to the Times. It was about murmurs of discontent with the Disney Hall. I explained to them that I had written a piece on the place for the Times in 1989, right after Gehry was selected, forecasting disenchantment, and a 14-year-later follow-up might be nice.

I didn't get a response, but it's nice to see that someone on staff was, er, apparently thinking along similar lines.

Regarding Kate's comment on the Ambassador. It is used frequently for many different types of activities, including high school proms, graduations and various cultural events as well. I went to a S.G.I Buddhist festival at the Ambassador not too long ago. The bottom line is I believe there's room for the new concert hall AND finding optimum use for the Ambassador in addition to the Dorthy Chandler as well. The second largest city in the U.S. can certainly use numerous halls for events that cater to activities commentors such as Kate might not be familiar with. I think there's also plenty of room for people to be critical of Gehry's new structure. However as I read the LAT piece I found myself thinking that I LIKE IT for precisely all the reasons Timberg found in criticising it.

Jaine--Ambassador Auditorium has the most nearly perfect acoustics in any facility west of the Mississippi. I posted a link below so you can learn more about it.
Yes, it's great that high school proms are held there, but I live within walking distance of it, and it's underutilized to say the least. Why should a stellar place to hear live performance of music be wasted?

Huell Howser of KCET did a program on the Ambassador concert hall a few months ago. First time I've ever seen it on video. Some of it looked kind of 1970s tacky (the lobby's staircase railing, for example, or the seats in the balcony that are one color, the seats on the orchestra level that are another). However, it will be sad if it can't be saved and re-activated as an active performing arts theater.

Well, I'm no urban design guru, but I've seen Disney Hall on trips to the downtown library, and I think it's breathtaking -- a visual thrill.

Bravo LA for Disney Hall. A jewel in your crown for the performing arts. I think it will be the finest concert hall in the WORLD. The Philharmonic finally has it's own home. There is no reason that Ambassador still can't have intimate concerts as well as other venues in the greater LA area. However, LA now has a Philharmonic Hall worthy of the city. Something new is always going to create controversy, and that is good. Remember a Democracy creates chaos from which comes order. Bravo Disney Hall! Now it is time to tansform the Pavilion into a Grand Opera House.

Finally a hall worthy of the city of Los Angeles. It sores, it floats and it says: 'look at me"!
Dispite all of the critisizm Los Angeles has a jewel in it's crown. It's too bad the Cathederal isn't as magnificent.

as an architect, I had the oportunity to see and touch this structure, a month ago during its finishing stages and its really hyped, overdone, and I am going to be the little boy who stands up and says',,,the emperor is naked'.
The site is wrong for a vernacular that crys for better sight lines, it doesnt hold a patch to the Sydney Opera house, and this whole 'deconstructivist' movement needs to be recalled like Gray Davis.
buildings that house performing and visual arts, should stand back and allow the audience to enjoy the product, without distraction. We, architects are dinasaurs in an ever accelerating techy age and this doesnt help at all.