Carlos Simon’s Gospel Mass with Dudamel

Gustavo Dudamel leads the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s exalted Gospel Mass, a celebratory homage to Black joy, spiritual discovery, and the power of faith. Navigating themes of loss, gratitude, hope, and resilience, Simon takes inspiration from Bernstein’s MASS and his own experience attending church with his family to create something distinctly his own. Simon’s Gospel Mass features The Sunday Service Collective and an experience-enhancing visual narrative from Melina Matsoukas, renowned for her award-winning music video work with icons like Beyoncé and Rihanna. The night opens with Leonard Bernstein’s Divertimento, a token of affection and appreciation for the city of his youth and its symphony orchestra, before Randall Goosby brings his “lush, warm tone and exceptional technique” (NPR) to Florence Price’s Second Violin Concerto.