Requiem Esa-Pekka Salonen Conducts Mozart and Ligeti
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jennifer France, Beth Taylor, Laurence Kilsby, Michael Sumuel, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Walt Disney Concert HallSouth Hope Street, Los Angeles 90012
Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and soloists Jennifer France, Beth Taylor, Laurence Kilsby, and Michael Sumuel in a Rituals festival pairing of Mozart’s Requiem and György Ligeti’s Requiem. Mozart’s unfinished mass moves from the force of the “Dies irae” to the “Lacrimosa”; after intermission comes Ligeti’s “hysterical, hyperdramatic, and unrestrained” vision, whose cosmic dread was heard in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale is a Los Angeles professional vocal ensemble known for repertoire spanning early choral music, contemporary work, new commissions, and pop classics. The Los Angeles Times has called it “the finest-by-far major chorus in America,” and the Chorale has a close history with the LA Phil, including Grammy-winning recordings with the orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel.
Designed by Frank Gehry, this concert hall is a striking architectural landmark with sweeping stainless steel curves that catch the light outside, while inside, its acoustics are meticulously crafted to deliver rich, clear sound to every seat. The auditorium seats over two thousand people in a space where the audience is fully immersed in the music, surrounded by warm wood paneling and a stage that brings performers close to listeners. The venue hosts ticketed performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other ensembles, offering an evening focused on attentive listening rather than casual socializing. Nearby bars and restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles provide options for pre- or post-show dining, but inside, the experience centers on the music in a refined, elegant setting.