New York Philharmonic with Gustavo Dudamel and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra 🇦🇷 🇧🇷 🇨🇺 🇲🇽 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
Leading classical and Latin orchestras together
Gershwin, Villa-Lobos, Ginastera, Ortiz, and salsa with orchestra
– David Geffen Hall, Wu Tsai Theater; Lincoln Center, Wed-Fri, May 6-8, 7:30pm
– United Palace, Washington Heights, Sat, May 9, 7:30pm
The New York Philharmonic with Gustavo Dudamel and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra is an important moment in salsa history, no make that music history.
New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic is one of the world’s great symphony orchestras with a broad and historical impact on the classical music canon and its connection to popular music.
Gustavo Dudamel
Renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is renewing classical music and expanding its audience. The Leonard Bernstein of our generation is a product of Venezuela’s El Sistema, a program of social transformation for poor Venezuelan children.
He is a natural community builder who has been reinvigorating New York’s classical music scene for several years ~ even before he officially takes the baton in the 2026-2027 Season.
Latin American composers are not a bright shiny object for Dudamel. They are core. And the collaborations he has programmed for 2026-2027 will make you want to go see the New York Philharmonic.
I wonder how this will impact the classical music canon around the world. This is our moment.
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO), led by pianist Oscar Hernández, is one of today’s most important salsa ensembles. Hernández was Rubén Blades’ music director for years. Their work together is classic.
SHO composes wonderful new music, and renews salsa and Latin classics in their signature 1970s New York salsa dura style. They are today’s leading representatives of that very important time in salsa and New York Latin culture.
When I hear Spanish Harlem Orchestra, I want to go home, actually not to El Barrio, but to Santurce, San Juan. Boricua de corazón.
By the way, if you want to listen to SHO, I recommend “Dime Tú” from 2025’s “Anniversary.” It wasn’t written about our current moment in history, but it really speaks to this moment. In a very Latin way, give us shit, and we’ll grow flowers. We are like the oysters that are cleaning New York Harbor right now ~ essential parts of an ecosystem, especially New York City’s melting pot.
Lincoln Center and United Palace
As part of his commitment to all New Yorkers, Dudamel is taking the New York Philharmonic out of its Lincoln Center home to play at the United Palace in Washington Heights.
My advice is that if you are from the barrio, go see one of the shows at Lincoln Center. If you are not from the barrio, go see the show at United Palace. Whichever way you go, you’ll be delighted.
Get Tickets
Get tickets if you can, because this is selling out fast.
If you can’t, I bet this becomes an album. It’s that important a moment in music history. ¡WEPA!