From the stainless steel curves of its striking exterior to the state-of-the-art acoustics of the hardwood-paneled main auditorium, Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall, new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. Opening in fall 2003, the hall is destined to be a new architectural landmark, generating as much excitement as Gehry's Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which its design predates.This book, which includes an introduction by Gehry, traces the history of the hall from its inception through the architect selection process, construction, and completion of the building, which is recorded in acclaimed architectural photographer Grant Mudford's stunning images. Esa-Pekka Salonen, music director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, recounts his first impressions of Gehry and the models for the new building in an essay that also defines what makes a great orchestra and a great concert hall. Sure to make headlines and attract visitors from around the world, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most important and innovative buildings of recent years. This book brings its story to all those interested in modern architecture.

Author Bio: Deborah Borda is the managing director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Richard Koshalek is the president of Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA. One of his most recent books is At the End of the Century: One Hundred Years of Architecture. Dana Hutt is the director of architectural documentation and special projects at Art Center College of Design. Esa-Pekka Salonen is a composer and the music director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Carol McMichael Reese is an associate professor of architecture at Tulane University, New Orleans. Michael Webb's essays on architecture have appeared in books and magazines in the United States and in Europe. Grant Mudford is an internationally acclaimed architecture photographer.