Classical music events reflect an era of change

Although Gustavo Dudamel will only be in Los Angeles slightly less than three weeks this fall to open his historic final season as Los Angeles Philharmonic music and artistic director, the L.A. Phil's influence looms large and wide throughout the season. Former Dudamel fellows, for instance, join the fall highlights. That includes Venezuelan conductor Rafael Payare, who has brilliantly revived the San Diego Symphony, and Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, now music director of the famed Philharmonia Orchestra in London.

- MARK SWED MUSIC CRITIC

San Diego Symphony, led by Rafael Payare, will present "The Child and the Magical Spells" on Oct. 3 and 5.

Fire season and the fall arts have always collided, but with worsening climate change that becomes ever more evident, this fall the environment will be on musical minds, beginning with Dudamel premiering Ellen Reid’s “Earth Between Oceans” and followed by major climaticcentric premieres from the Philharmonia and Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The earliest remembered composer goes back to the 12th century, yet Hildegard von Bingen, whose numinous rapport with her environment feels urgently supernatural today, is the subject of a new opera that the Los Angeles Opera is importing. Hildegard’s music remains so relevant and meaningful that the avant-garde guitarist Jiji will begin her recital at the Nimoy with her arrangement of Hildegard’s music for electric guitar.

SEPT. 25-28 GUSTAVO DUDAMEL BEGINS HIS FINAL

SEASON WITH THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC Walt Disney Concert Hall “Gracias Gustavo,” Gustavo Dudamel’s farewell season as Los Angeles Philharmonic music and artistic director, begins as all his 17 seasons in Walt Disney Concert Hall have begun — with a world premiere. Ellen Reid’s “Earth Between Oceans,” a co-commission between the L.A. Phil and New York Philharmonic (which Dudamel takes over in 2026), evoking nature’s command of the four elements (earth, air, fire and water) as they operate in both cities. In our case, that involves contending with fires and our swelling oceans but also the promise of a future of unity through celebration of our multicultural communities. This, of course, is just the beginning of yearlong