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 conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic, four vocal soloists and the Los Angeles Master Chorale in Mozart’s Requiem as part of the Rituals festival. Soprano Jennifer France, mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor, tenor Laurence Kilsby and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel join the performance, which frames Mozart’s unfinished mass around questions of faith, humanity and mortality. This shortened program runs without an intermission, followed by an on-stage conversation with guests and performers.
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.