Orfeó Català and Palau Chamber Choir receive standing ovation in US debut

The celebrated Catalan choirs Orfeó Català and Palau Chamber Choir opened their three-night series at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with Beethoven's 'Missa Solemnis,' receiving a standing ovation of more than six minutes.

The concerts, held from February 20–22, marked a historic collaboration with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) under the direction of Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who conducted the monumental work for the first time in his career.

The performances were significant on multiple levels. They marked the Los Angeles debut for both Catalan choirs and also Dudamel's first time leading what he has described as "the Holy Grail of the symphonic repertoire."

The concerts brought together over 100 singers from Barcelona’s Palau de la Música Catalana, the LA Phil, and an international cast of soloists: soprano Pretty Yende, mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino, tenor SeokJong Baek, and bass Rod Gilfry.

Dudamel described the collaboration as "unique," highlighting the opportunity to "celebrate the beauty of music and the union between cultures."

A work of grand ambition

Composed between 1819 and 1822, Beethoven's 'Missa solemnis' is widely regarded as one of the most demanding and spiritually profound works in the Western classical canon. 

Although it is based on the Catholic Mass text, the work goes far beyond traditional church music in its size and power. Because it is so demanding both technically and emotionally, it is rarely performed in concert halls.

For Dudamel, conducting the work for the first time marks an important milestone in his career. In the program notes, he praised its remarkable structure, saying that each time he studies the score he discovers "a new room" within Beethoven's vast musical design. 

The director of the Orfeó Català, Xavier Puig, described the premiere as "very emotional." 

He praised Dudamel for taking bold risks with rapid tempos, noting that the choir met the challenge with remarkable confidence and maturity. Puig also emphasized that the 'Missa solemnis' is an exceptionally demanding work.

The Orfeó Català also shares a historic connection with 'Missa solemnis.' 

In 1927, it became the first choir in Spain to perform the piece. The three concerts at the Palau de la Música included a final performance broadcast live on the radio, creating the first known recording of the work.

A longstanding musical partnership

The collaboration builds on a decade of artistic exchanges between Dudamel and the Barcelona-based choirs. 

He previously conducted them in Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' and Beethoven’s 'Ninth Symphony,' and they later joined him on tour with the Münchner Philharmoniker in 'Mahler’s Second Symphony.' 

Most recently, in 2024, the Palau Chamber Choir participated in Dudamel’s production of 'Fidelio'.

The conductor also revealed plans for a future collaboration with the Palau choirs to perform Mahler's 'Symphony No. 8' – another vast choral-orchestral masterpiece – though no dates have yet been announced.