On June 26, 27, and 28, acclaimed composer, bandleader, and saxophonist Kamasi Washington will lead an unforgettable trio of performances inside LACMA's new David Geffen Galleries. To be among the first to step inside LACMA's newest landmark and experience this once-in-a-lifetime event, secure your spot on our website, where the second round of tickets have now been released.
With an ensemble of more than 100 musicians, Washington will perform his celebrated work Harmony of Difference in the museum's striking new building designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Peter Zumthor. The massive ensemble, many of whom are Los Angeles musicians Washington has played with across his storied career, will be dispersed over approximately 110,000 square feet of gallery space, making the building itself an acoustic instrument and integral part of the piece. Washington will lead the musicians in a series of performances that will never be repeated as the first public program in the new space.
Washington said, “I wrote Harmony of Difference in 2017 to celebrate the beauty of humanity’s diversity through a metaphor of music. In music it is the combination of different notes, chords, and rhythms that create beautiful songs. The same is true in life; most of humanity’s greatest achievements came from the combined efforts of people of different backgrounds with different knowledge and abilities. As we come together to learn and work with each other humanity advances and grows. This June at LACMA will be the first time I will be performing the entire Harmony of Difference suite in front of a live audience, and to do it in L.A., a true haven of diversity and my hometown, is really special. The Geffen Galleries has a truly unique acoustic environment that is perfect for Harmony of Difference. This performance will have more than 100 musicians spread throughout the space in ensembles of varying types playing the entire suite simultaneously. As people walk through the galleries they will directly hear the musicians they are closest to while hearing the ‘spirit’ of the other groups. This will be a truly once in a lifetime sonic experience that I’m so excited for people to witness.”
The second round of tickets ($75 for general public, $60 for LACMA members) are now available, and a third round of tickets ($100 for general public, $80 for LACMA members) will be released Thursday, June 12, at 10 am PT. Secure your place at this extraordinary event on our website.