Dudamel Launches His Final Season
Gustavo Dudamel kicks off his final season as the LA Phil’s Music & Artistic Director with a beloved orchestral piece that exemplifies his adventurous and exciting 17-year tenure. Follow Dudamel from dusk ‘til dawn, through deep forests, icy fields, and a tumultuous storm, as he leads the LA Phil in Richard Strauss’ exhilarating hike. The composer called his orchestral expedition An Alpine Symphony, “since it represents: moral purification through one’s own strength, liberation through work, and worship of eternal, magnificent nature.”
Dudamel presents a world premiere for orchestra and choir by Pulitzer Prize-winner Ellen Reid—known for her interactive soundscapes and innovative fusions of art, nature, and technology—that draws inspiration from the four elements as experienced in Los Angeles versus New York.
A note from Gustavo Dudamel
We open our 2025/26 season with a celebration of the natural world—something that inspires us, challenges us, and connects us all. I’m especially proud to begin with the world premiere of Earth Between Oceans by Ellen Reid, a deeply personal and powerful work for both of us. The title reflects the two cities that have shaped our lives—Los Angeles and New York—and the music explores how the four natural elements have shaped them in return.
This piece is a meditation on the overwhelming power of nature in the face of rising political and environmental uncertainty. Each movement evokes an element through a specific cityscape: from the frozen soil of a New York winter in “Earth,” to the calm, vast openness of “Air” seen from above the city. “Fire” is a visceral response to the devastating Southern California wildfires of January 2025, and “Water” flows with the spirit of the Pacific coast. At the heart of Earth Between Oceans is a sense of resilience and hope. Ellen’s music reminds us that the natural forces surrounding us are older, wiser, and more enduring than any moment of crisis. Her focus on rhythm, combined with the unique role of the choir, shapes a sound that feels both rooted and transcendent.
Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony continues this dialogue with nature. It is a story of exploration—of climbing toward something greater, through danger, awe, and beauty. This is my first time performing it with the LA Phil, and I’m honored to take this journey with our extraordinary musicians and our audience. Together, these works remind us of the beauty of the Earth, the challenges we face, and the enduring capacity of music to connect us across distance, time, and experience. —Gustavo Dudamel
