Maestro Previn, May We Introduce Mr. Gehry?

Regarding “Previn at Peace,” by Martin Bernheimer (April 12):

I personally met and shook hands with Andre Previn at least 10 times in my life. I even visited his dressing room after a concert. Be that as it may, I can well understand his not being aware of having met me, since for the most part the encounters were informal and en passant .

Several days after winning the Disney Hall architectural competition, I sent word to Mr. Previn through members of the orchestra and people at the Philharmonic, inviting him to meet with me and make his presence felt in the design process. My recollection is that my invitations were rebuffed in some form or another.

Somebody I can’t remember even attributed to Mr. Previn the off-the-cuff remark that he was only interested in halls in which he could get good reviews. Anyway, this is not to be construed as my dumping on Andre Previn, as I have the highest respect for him as an artist and can well imagine that all of this slipped through the cracks for any number of reasons.

When Esa-Pekka Salonen was named officially to the Philharmonic, I sent word to him similarly asking him to get involved, and within days he appeared in my office ready to work. It is through that kind of involvement that we designed the risers for testing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion so that they can be perfected for Disney Hall.

Throughout the process we’ve also had many meetings with members of the Philharmonic and with visiting conductors and musicians, including Simon Rattle, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta and Kurt Sanderling.

As you can well guess, designing a “perfect” concert hall is a precarious undertaking at best, and I need all the help I can get.

FRANK O. GEHRY

Santa Monica