The tribal drums of Ortiz and Revueltas

Mexican-American Alondra de la Parra leads this concert featuring music from California to Mexico, from the sounds of the Pacific to the rhythmic primal energy of the Maya. The program includes new works by multiple Grammy Award winner Gabriela Ortiz!

A Tribute to Mayan Culture
Gabriela Ortiz, composer-in-residence at Het Concertgebouw for 2025–2026, has already received several Grammy Awards for her music. On February 1, 2026, she added three more Grammys in one fell swoop, including the award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. ForLa Reina Roja, this Mexican composer was inspired by the discovery of a tomb containing the remains of a high-ranking Maya woman from the seventh century. No better combination could be imagined than with music by fellow countryman Revueltas. HisLa noche de los mayasis an orchestral suite based on music for the film of the same name. The finale, featuring twelve percussionists, is imposing and mesmerizing. A spectacular tribute to the tribal traditions of the Maya. Experience the primal rhythmic power of their music, long before Columbus set foot on South American soil. Xenakis’s percussion soloRebonds Bserves as the perfect prelude.

Landscapes Full of Sound
The concert opens with*Tumblebird Contrails*by the young American composer Gabriella Smith. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and feels a strong connection to nature. While backpacking far from civilization, she listened to the mesmerizing sounds of the Pacific Ocean, which she has effectively captured in music. This afternoon marks the Dutch premiere.