Lessons from Liberace: Concert dress

With his new Mohawk haircut and intense playing, Carpenter was soloist in Copland’s “Organ” Symphony with the L.A. Phil in April 2013.   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Chinese pianist Yuja Wang caused commotion at the Hollywood Bowl in 2011 when she wore a little orange dress as soloist in Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Wang has gotten flashier and less mechanical at the keyboard as she has grown increasingly comfortable sashaying on stage in sexy gowns.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Some say violinist Leopold has gone too far in letting ostentatious fashion gaudily color his musicianship.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Leopold, formerly Hahn-Bin, in the West Coast premiere of his new show “‘Til Dawn Sunday” at UCLA’s Royce Hall.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Azzadine Alaia designed the striking costumes for L.A. Phil’s production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Pictured: Rachel Frenkel as Cherubino.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

The sober violinist Hilary Hahn showed up in May 2013 for a Walt Disney Concert Hall recital in a gown with practically a bikini top.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

The Kronos Quartet has been annually changing its look for 40 years and has remained a vital ensemble.
Pictured: The Kronos Quartet at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in 1997.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)