Palisades Symphony to Present ‘A Monumental Evening of Music and Spirit’

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Palisades Symphony and Brentwood Palisades Chorale will present a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Messa da Requiem”—“one of the most profound and majestic works in the choral-orchestral repertoire.”

The concert will take place Sunday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. at The Church of Latter-day Saints, located at 3400 Sawtelle Boulevard.

“This performance takes place under exceptional circumstances,” read a statement from Palisades Symphony. “Earlier this year, devastating wildfires severely impacted the Palisades Symphony community—destroying the homes of 16 orchestra and chorale members, and displacing the ensemble from its primary venue at Palisades Lutheran Church. Even more tragically, another permanent concert space, the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades, which traditionally hosted our large choral-orchestral productions, was completely destroyed by the fire. In the face of these hardships, we are especially grateful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for opening its doors to us.”

Brentwood Palisades Chorale joins the symphony under the direction and preparation of Susan Rosenstein. The concert will be conducted by Dr. Maxim Kuzin.

“A passionate and visionary leader, Dr. Kuzin has been the driving force behind this ambitious collaboration,” read a statement. “His leadership has ushered in a new chapter for the symphony, even as the ensemble faces unprecedented challenges.”

The performance will feature a “distinguished quartet” of soloists: soprano Diana Farrell, mezzo-soprano Alexis Wesley, tenor Wi Young Oh and bass-baritone Ben Lowe.

Admission to the concert is free, but donations are being accepted to support Palisades Symphony’s transition through this “challenging post-fire period.”

“Donations are gratefully accepted and will help the Palisades Symphony organization transition through this challenging post-fire period, and return even stronger to its permanent place in the cultural heart of the Pacific Palisades,” Palisades Symphony wrote. “Come be part of this evening of remembrance, resilience and renewal—through the universal power of music.”