IT'S `CASUAL FRIDAY' - FOR YOU AND THE L.A. PHIL.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

You can be ``naive'' and ``sentimental'' and ``relaxed'' tonight at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The first two terms refer to American composer John Adams' 1999 ambitious, vibrant concert work ``Naive and Sentimental Music,'' which will be performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Relaxed refers to your attire.

Tonight is one of the ``Casual Friday Nights'' the Phil has this season. Audiences are encouraged to ``come as they are'' as a way to ``break down the barriers that people might have about a concert experience,'' says Chad Smith, vice president of artistic planning for the Phil.

It's not that the orchestra doesn't want all concert experiences to be comfortable, but it's hoped that Casual Fridays will foster ``closer interaction between the the musicians and the audience.''

Not only will the audience be able to show up in jeans and not feel out of place, but so can the orchestra, though most probably won't go that far. But there will be no gowns on the female musicians or tuxes and ties on the men -- not even on Salonen.

The orchestra members are encouraged to stick around and meet and talked with the audience afterward. ``We keep the bars open downstairs,'' says Smith.

There you'll be able to ask questions about what was just played and talk to the musicians about what they were thinking when they played it.

Usually, a member of the orchestra will have talked about the music being performed that night sometime during the concert, but tonight will be different. Adams, one of America's preeminent composers, will be on hand to receive the Philharmonic's distinguished service award from Salonen and Deborah Borda, its president and chief executive officer.

As Smith notes, the Phil doesn't program down for the Casual Friday series, calling Adams' ``Naive and Sentimental Music'' ``one of the most important contemporary works written in the last 10 years.'' The New York Times said upon its premiere that ``Naive'' contained ``astonishing walls of active sound.''

By the way, Adams' ``Naive'' will be paired with Beetho-

ven's ``Symphony No. 2'' on Saturday night -- but you'll have to dress up a bit more for that. And on Tuesday, the composer will conduct a program of his own works -- ``China Gates,'' ``Gnarly Buttons'' and ``Grand Pianola Music.''

But so far, audiences are liking ``Casual Fridays''; the Phil programmed eight this year, up from four last season.

``It's a shorter concert. ... People are tired after working, and it's one of the harder days to commute,'' says Smith. ``It's more than gimmickry ... it's a chance for people to get together.''

Rob Lowman [phone]

[e-mail]

SALONEN CONDUCTS ADAMS

What: The Los Angeles Phiharmonic performs John Adams' ``Naive and Sentimental Music.''

Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown.

When: 8 tonight.

Tickets: $39 to $135 [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Esa-Pekka Salonen, above, conducts the L.A. Philharmonic in a program of music by American composer John Adams, left.