The Walt Disney Concert Hall was abuzz Oct. 8 as the Los Angeles Philharmonic officially launched its 2009-10 season with Gustavo Dudamel as its new music director.

Before a sold-out audience, the much-heralded Dudamel, the 90-year-old orchestra’s 11th music director, led the orchestra in his inaugural concert featuring the world premiere of L.A. Philharmonic Creative Chair John Adams’ “City Noir” and Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1 in D Major.”

The evening was simulcast live for a crowd of 3,000 on the Music Center Plaza, broadcast live on KUSC FM 91.5 and NPR.org, and taped for international and national PBS telecast and DVD release.

A contemporary and truly pan-Latin theme was carried out throughout the evening, beginning with a “hot pink” — rather than red — carpet walk at the foot of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Similar colors were in evidence throughout the hall, designed by Gai Klass Productions.

The evening began with the arrival of guests, including Andy Garcia who served as host of the PBS broadcast; Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance, Sophia Bush, Dana Delaney, Jenna Elfman, Rachel Griffiths, Don Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Quincy Jones, Eriq La Salle, Luke McFarlane, Sidney Poitier, Jason Schwartzman and William Shatner, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and county Supervisors Gloria Molina and Zev Yaroslavsky, among other distinguished attendees.

Dudamel’s wife, Eloísa Maturén also walked the “hot pink” carpet, accompanied by L.A. Philharmonic Board Chair David Bohnett.

Guests enjoyed intimate reception offerings of hors d’oeuvres created by Joachim Splichal of the Patina Group and cocktails created by Patina Catering.

In keeping with the Latin theme of the evening, the hors d’oeuvres options included cachucha (mini cheese-filled peppers), crispy cones filled with chicken, pickled onions and cilantro cream, soft corn blinis with chorizo and cheese and Venezuelan beef short rib bites on skewers. Wine was provided by the Gallo Family Vineyards. Pre-concert entertainment featured a flamenco guitar quartet and a Brazilian bossa nova trio.

The concert opened with “City Noir,” a piece described by composer Adams as “a symphony inspired by the peculiar ambiance and mood of Los Angeles’ ‘noir’ films, especially those produced in the late ’40s and early ’50s. My music is an homage not necessarily to the film music of that period but rather to the overall aesthetic of the era.”

Following the well-received Adams’ work, patrons were invited to enjoy Mumm Napa sparkling wine during intermission before settling in to enjoy Mahler’s First Symphony. The final bows following the Mahler piece were accompanied by a confetti drop of shiny pink and silver mylar branded with “Gustavo Dudamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic: The Inaugural Concert, Oct. 8, 2009.”

Following the concert, guests descended the stairs to the Grand Avenue sidewalk to continue the night’s festivities. The post-concert reception featured “Pasión,” a fizzy cocktail of rum, pineapple and coconut juice with a grenadine sinker, created by Patina for the evening. Guests enjoyed mini arepas — native Venezuelan bread stuffed with shredded beef and spoonfuls of local yellowtail with white fig and toasted cocoa nibs, while being entertained by capoeira dancers and traditional Latin drummers.

Inside the dinner venue on Grand Avenue, which was closed for the evening, guests were greeted by the sight of a cobble-stoned Latin square, surrounded by brightly painted buildings and tropical flora, designed by TFS Studio, while Impulse, a bilingual dance band, played a variety of music.

Under open skies on the crisp downtown evening with Walt Disney Concert Hall spectacularly lit by Images by Lighting in transitioning colors, those in attendance feasted on a meal created personally by Splichal of The Patina Group. The dinner menu began with Camarones Asado al Piquante (prawns and a stuffed piquillo pepper) followed by Chimichurri Lomita Filet of Beef and ended with a Torta de Queso with Cinnamon, a pan-American dessert favorite. Dinner wine was provided again by Gallo Family Vineyards.

During dinner, guests were treated to brief remarks from L.A. Philharmonic President Deborah Borda and Board Chair Bohnett before Dudamel took the stage to express his appreciation for his new orchestra family.

The evening’s entertainment culminated with a Carnaval-inspired aerial program created by Airealistic.

All proceeds support the education programs of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, including YOLA, the signature program of Dudamel.

“City Noir” was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic specifically for the evening.

 The national PBS telecast is being produced by Bernhard Fleischer Moving Images, Thirteen for WNET.org, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the award-winning public television performing arts series Great Performances. The program will be broadcast Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. on PBS member station KCET.