1. Ernest Fleischmann and Zubin Mehta launched the first Tchaikovsky Spectacular in 1969. 

When Ernest Fleischmann arrived in 1969 as the LA Phil’s new executive director, he brought with him a big idea inspired by the Sunday night concerts at Royal Albert Hall. 

And so, we did.  

On August 16, 1969, our then-Music Director and now-Conductor Emeritus Zubin Mehta led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in its first all-Tchaikovsky program with pyrotechnics. 

It’s been an annual tradition ever since. 

2. A family business plans each firework show with about 1,600 individual explosions, 100 bouquet showers, and 4–6 animated pieces. 

Fifth-generation pyrotechnician Paul Souza is the producer of Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, the company that carefully crafts our massive showcases. 

Get an exclusive inside look at how the fireworks are prepared and fired at the Bowl. 

3. Thirty years after their Bowl debut, the USC Trojan Marching Band became regulars at the Tchaikovsky Spectacular.

In 1954, the University of Southern California’s Trojan Marching Band made its first appearance on the Bowl stage, performing before a campaign speech by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  

From the ’50s through the late ’70s, the marching band often performed at the university’s Songfest competitions at the Bowl and during some of the LA Phil’s Fourth of July concerts. 

But it wasn’t until the summer of 1983 when the Trojans became an official, recurring highlight of our Tchaikovsky Spectacular.  

4. Sometimes we like to balance out the “booms” with a bit of ballet.

Tchaikovsky wrote three of the most memorable and melodic ballet scores of all time: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. 

Over the years, we’ve teamed up with dance and theatrical companies including Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2003, American Ballet Theatre in 2016, San Francisco Ballet in 2024, and Troupe Vertigo in 2026 to bring an additional mix of grace and allure to the Spectacular. 

5. We’ve got you, and your cars, covered!

We light up the sky with fireworks on roughly 10 nights every season. While you’re inside the Bowl watching sparks fly, the parking lot staff is outside doing the same thing. 

Except they’re also covering cars with tarps and brushing away stray embers…just in case.