David Geffen Hall - Dudamel & David Lang’s the wealth of nations
Sat, Mar 21
|David Geffen Hall
A groundbreaking premiere: Dudamel and the NY Phil unveil David Lang’s bold oratorio inspired by Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations — a striking fusion of music and economics.
Time & Location
Mar 21, 2026, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
David Geffen Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, USA
About the event
Event Overview
From March 19 to March 22, 2026, at Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, the New York Philharmonic presents the World Premiere of the wealth of nations, an ambitious, thought-provoking work by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer David Lang. This commission dares to do what few classical compositions have: explore the forces that govern commerce, labor, and value — through music.
At the podium is Gustavo Dudamel, the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music and Artistic Director Designate of the New York Philharmonic, bringing his visionary energy to a world where oratorio meets economic treatise.
Inspired by Adam Smith’s 1776 masterwork, Lang frames this epic exploration in the style of Handel’s Messiah, transforming foundational ideas about capitalism and morality into a choral and orchestral experience of rare originality. “I want this work to be enjoyable and thought-provoking,” says Lang. “Encouraging audiences to consider what we truly value.”
This singular event…