Art installation lights up Walt Disney Concert Hall to celebrate LA Phil's centennial season

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles got a brand new look Thursday night, as a laser light show illuminated the hall's curving stainless steel walls.

The laser art show was all part of the L.A. Philharmonic's 100-year anniversary celebration of making beautiful music.

The orchestra celebrated our state with its season opener "California Soul."

Under the direction of music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel, the musicians spent the evening playing iconic songs of California.

"People will think classical music is far, it's elitist, it's something for a little group of society but it's not," Dudamel said. "That is why in this celebration, we want to embrace everyone."

Many famous faces were excited to sit back and take it all in.

"I love soul music, and I love helping kids. The arts are very important to our schools, to our kids, to our culture," said actress Angela Bassett.

Thursday night's concert was the start of a special weekend, with Sunday becoming an 8-mile-long street party that will connect the concert hall and the Hollywood Bowl.

A total of 1,800 musicians, dancers and visual artists will be at six major hubs along the route -- all in an auto-free Ciclavia zone.

Sunday ends with a big, free star-studded concert at the bowl, but registration to get tickets for that is closed.