Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) brought surprise guests to their second Coachella 2025 performance on Saturday night. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters joined the orchestra for a high-energy performance of “The World Is a Neighborhood” and “Everlong,” keeping his signature rock style intact.
Cynthia Erivo followed with a ballad from her upcoming album, before delivering a heartfelt version of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Natasha Bedingfield also joined the stage, performing her 2004 hit “Unwritten,” accompanied by a choir and full orchestra.
Dudamel thanked the crowd for their energy, calling the two weekends at Coachella “maybe the best of our lives.” Other highlights included a Latin-symphonic collaboration with Venezuelan duo Cat7riel and Paco, and a performance by jazz-pop artist Laufey, who sang her hit “From the Start” along with her new track, “Silver Lining.”
The set also featured iconic instrumental pieces like the “Imperial March” from Star Wars, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons arranged by Max Richter.
In an interview before the festival, Dudamel spoke about his long-standing dream of blending classical music with pop at Coachella, saying, “Music connects everything, from Wagner to Bach to pop. There’s no wall between styles.” He emphasized that when music is genuine, it unites people and creates a shared experience.
The LA Phil’s Coachella performance showed that when classical and contemporary music come together, they can bridge genres and connect with diverse audiences.
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