For three days, starting on Friday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 3, the Walt Disney Concert Hall will be hosting a series of Día de Los Muertos concerts, with Gustavo Dudamel orchestrating the centerpiece shows at night. Through a broad spectrum of music, ranging from Mexican music in the form of a Silvestre Revueltas piece to Brazilian music with a ​​Heitor Villa-Lobos piece, there’s no denying Día de Los Muertos is in good hands and that capturing the culture is guaranteed. Dudamel will conduct the LA Philharmonic on all three nights, with several other events, including ofrenda exhibitions and free drinks in the garden. Tickets are available now.

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Words: David Sosa

Careful selection of works

As is to be expected with Dudamel, the three pieces that will be performed on the three nights show the amount of thought that goes into the curation of these concerts. On top of the compositions that have been performed at least once at the Hall in the past, they represent the diverse, eclectic culture in and coming from Latin America. The concert on all three days will begin with Chôros No. 10, “Rasga o Coração” by ​​Heitor Villa-Lobos, a Brazilian composition that, while not having an immediate connection to Día de Los Muertos, does capture the urban, kinetic streets of Brazil in a way few works can.

Considering the concert is dedicated to Día de Los Muertos, it’s only right Mexico is prominently featured during the program. Before the intermission, Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s Yanga will return to the Hall. Named after Gaspar Yanga, an African man who led a resistance in Veracruz, the piece was first played as part of Dudamel’s Beethoven concert in 2019. After the intermission is La noche de los Mayas, a 1939 composition from Silvestre Revueltas. Scored to the film of the same name, the piece also makes an appearance at the From Mexico to Hollywood event starting Oct. 25, albeit in excerpts.

Honoring the past

With Día de Los Muertos dedicated to those who have passed, all three compositions honor indigenous populations across Latin America and celebrated figures, ranging from the maestros behind them to revolutionaries like Yanga. In the case of Yanga, the piece also honors Afro-Mexican culture through the inclusion of batás, guiros, shekeres, and cabasas, all of which are African instruments that represent the rich, varied diversity in Latin America.

As the name would suggest, La noche de los Mayas is dedicated to Mayan culture, which influenced Día de Los Muertos as we know it today through traditions that survived the passage of time. As for Chôros No. 10, “Rasga o Coração,” the focus on Brazil’s streets contrasts classical music’s long-standing association with cultures and people of higher status. Starting the concert with such a piece frames the rest of the evening as one that takes the history behind the compositions with as much seriousness as the artistry.

Beyond the concert

Aside from the concerts conducted by Dudamel, there are several events happening throughout the three days that are great ways to celebrate with your family. In the spirit of Día de Los Muertos, artists Teresa Flores, Liseth Amaya, Lily Martinez, Consuelo G. Flores, and Dalila Paola Mendez were all commissioned to create exhibitions that reflect each artist’s creative vision. For Martinez, who specializes in creating original Catrina costumes, her “De Colores Catrina Sisters” will be located in the BP Hall, and headpieces will be on the third floor of the Hall.

Consuelo G. Flores and Amaya created traditional life-size altars, both of which cover themes of loss, grief, and healing. Teresa Flores hosts “An Offering to Accompany the Music” on the Hall’s third floor, while Paola Méndez created a mural that can be seen in the garden. Speaking of the garden, for anyone looking for date ideas on Día de Los Muertos, the Hall will also give out free drinks before the Friday night concert at their rooftop garden.

Whether looking to formally celebrate late loved ones or surround yourself with a wide-ranging culture, the three-night concert orchestrated by Dudamel is a great way to achieve both on and around Día de Los Muertos. While there are always shows happening at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Nov. 16, keep an eye out for Noon to Midnight Festival: Field Recordings. Similar to Día de Los Muertos with Dudamel, the 12-hour festival features multiple experiences that serve as the intersection between classical music and art installations.