Fleischmann’s Years

June 1969: Ernest Fleischmann formally takes administrative charge of the Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl, with Zubin Mehta in his seventh year as the orchestra’s music director. The budget is $5,119,000.

July 1969: Fireworks are introduced at the Hollywood Bowl, accompanying Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture, complete with cannon, beginning a Bowl tradition that virtually guarantees sell-out crowds.

September 1969: The Philharmonic embarks on only its fifth tour in a 50-year history, to 10 cities in Japan. Thereafter, it will tour every season, including 19 international trips.

1974: The Philharmonic is the first American orchestra to perform at London’s annual classical music extravaganza, the BBC Proms Concerts at Royal Albert Hall.

1978: Mehta leaves after 16 years to lead the New York Philharmonic; Carlo Maria Giulini takes the baton.

1981: The Philharmonic New Music Group is launched; the Green Umbrella series will start six years later--these new music efforts will be responsible for 35 world, 18 U.S. and 50 West Coast premieres.

1982: The orchestra’s fully staged production of “Falstaff,” with Giulini conducting, lures the international music press to L.A.

1984: The Philharmonic is the first major American orchestra to introduce preconcert discussions for every subscription performance. Opening lecture: musicologist MaryAnn Bonino on Bach’s B-minor Mass.

1985: Giulini, 71, returns to Italy to be with his ailing wife; Andre Previn becomes music director.

November 1985: Fleischmann, in one of the many times he flirts with a move, actually announces his plan to resign to go to the Paris Opera. He’s back at the Philharmonic a week later.

1989: Previn resigns when Fleischmann, without consulting the conductor, hires Esa-Pekka Salonen as principal guest conductor and schedules him to lead the orchestra on a Japanese tour.

1991: The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Bowl’s resident pops band, is formed, with a 15-CD recording deal with Philips inked before the orchestra ever plays a note.

Summer 1992: The Los Angeles Philharmonic, with Salonen as music director-designate, is the first American orchestra in residence for both opera and concerts at the prestigious Salzburg Festival in Austria.

Fall 1992: Salonen begins first full season as music director.

1995: The Philharmonic wins its 15th ASCAP programming award for its commitment to contemporary music; all but one came during Fleischmann’s tenure.

1997: The Philharmonic’s budget reaches $44,611,000. Since Fleischmann’s tenure began in 1969, audiences have tripled at the Hollywood Bowl and doubled at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

March 1998: Fleischmann retires and is succeeded by Willem Wijnbergen.