Cate Blanchett will narrate four performances of Beethoven’s Egmont under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel at the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 12-15 February 2026. Tickets are available now.

Black Bag will be released in Japan on 26 September.

Cate Blanchett at LA Philharmonic

In his music to Egmont, Beethoven magnificently distilled the heroic tale of a Dutch warrior who gave his life to preserve freedom and independence in the face of oppression. Acclaimed playwright Jeremy O. Harris reimagines Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s play with Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett as its narrator and Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Beethoven’s music.

Leading off the evening is the world premiere of Ricardo Lorenz’s Humboldt’s Nature, inspired by the South American travels of Beethoven’s like-minded contemporary, philosopher and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. In between, piano sensation Yunchan Lim, winner of the 2022 Van Cliburn competition, performs Robert Schumann’s enchanting Piano Concerto.

Artists:

• Los Angeles Philharmonic
• Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
• Yunchan Lim, piano
• Cate Blanchett, narrator
• Elena Villalón, soprano

Tickets can be booked here.

Described as a “bold reimagining,” the production casts Blanchett as Egmont, a role that has traditionally been filled by a male narrator. Credit for the new take and the gender swap goes to Slave Play breakout Jeremy O. Harris.

The piece, set to feature soprano Elena Villalón, is said to tackle themes of resistance, freedom and heroism. It is part of a program that will open with the world premiere of Ricardo Lorenz’s Humboldt’s Nature, a work inspired by the South American expeditions of Alexander von Humboldt, the visionary philosopher and Beethoven contemporary, and also feature pianist Yunchan Lim performing Schumann’s masterful Piano Concerto.

More on THR

Black Bag in Japanese cinemas

Check out the Japanese trailer, poster, and flyer for the film, in cinemas 26 September.

Japanese Flyer

Parco Movie Interview

Source: Universal Pictures Japan