Dudamel and Catalan choirs dazzle in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orfeó Català and the Chamber Chorus of the Palau de la Música Catalana

Pretty Yende, Sarah Saturnino, SeokJong Baek and Rod Gilfry

By Néstor Castiglione, 24 February 2026

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“one would have thought that the music and conductor were old friends”

Reviewed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles on 20 February 2026

Beethoven, Mass in D major, “Missa solemnis”, Op.123

Pretty Yende, Soprano

Sarah Saturnino, Mezzo-soprano

SeokJong Baek, Tenor

Rod Gilfry, Bass-baritone

Orfeó Català

Chamber Chorus of the Palau de la Música Catalana

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor

A cerebral bacchanalia: Young's bold, brainy Messiaen at Disney Hall

Néstor Castiglione, 10th April

Simone Young's take on Messiaen's Turangalîla with the Los Angeles Philharmonic proves a night to remember.

*****

Shock, spectacle and endurance: Yuja Wang and Thomas Adès at full tilt

Laurence Vittes, 8th February

If Prokofiev’s original intention in his Second Piano Concerto was shock and awe, Yuja Wang gives exactly the right performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

***11

John Adams leads Americana, past and present, with LA Phil

Néstor Castiglione, 23rd January

Compelling as a composer and conductor, Adams restored Roy Harris' Third Symphony to the Los Angeles repertoire, alongside one of his most recent works.

*****

Salonen and the LA Philharmonic take on the forces of nature

Néstor Castiglione, 9th January

Reflections of nature and humanity's place within it in Salonen's 2026 return

****1

Winter Daydreams and a Jazz Age Nutcracker at Disney Hall

Néstor Castiglione, 18th December

A feast of Tchaikovsky with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under guest conductor Thomas Wilkins.

****1

Ligeti shines at Disney Hall under Gimeno's baton

Laurence Vittes, 14th December

Renaud Capuçon adds a degree of theatricality to his Mozart with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

***11

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Néstor Castiglione

Néstor Castiglione is a freelance music critic, program note annotator, translator, and lecturer born and raised in Los Angeles. Aside from classical music, he also writes and lectures on the culture and popular music of early Shōwa Japan (1925 – 1945). His website is Echorrhea and you can also follow him on Instagram @echorrhea.

Gustavo Dudamel and Catalan choirs dazzle in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis