Sunday’s LA Philharmonic concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall will be the second time Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is being paired with a world premiere work. This summer Caroline Shaw’s Observatory had its first performance at the Hollywood Bowl as the opening act for Beethoven’s final symphony. Sunday night composer Gabriela Ortiz finds her new work Yanga as the opening act.
Yanga was commissioned by the LA Philharmonic. Ortiz is based in Mexico City and has written music for chamber orchestras, solo instruments, large orchestras, operas and also film scores.
It is interesting that the works of two female composers were chosen to have their world premieres prior to Beethoven’s 9th with the LA Philharmonic this year. Shaw didn’t know that Observatory would be paired with the symphony, but Ortiz was specifically told to compose something joyous because it was on a program with this work.
Gustavo Dudamel will lead the performance. Ortiz’s work will add the Tambuco Percussion Ensemble to the LA Philharmonic. For the Beethoven the soloists are Golda Schultz, soprano; Tamara Mumford, mezzo; Mario Chang, tenor and James Rutherford, bass-baritone. The orchestra will also be joined by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Is it possible to get tired of a work as beautifully composed with such a joyous expression of life in it as Beethoven’s 9th? I can’t imagine that possibility. No doubt this symphony will be the main attraction, but once again, I’m most excited about the world premiere.
Later this week we will have an interview with Ortiz about the work and its inspiration.
At press time, the website for the LA Philharmonic did not have a link to single tickets for this concert. Please contact the box office.
Bust of Beethoven by Hugo Hagen/Photo by W.J. Baker