The New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic are set to present important premieres of the documentary “El Canto de las Manos,” directed by actress and filmmaker María Valverde.

The documentary, which gets its U.S. premiere at David Geffen Hall on Nov. 7, followed by the West Coast premiere at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Nov. 10, 2025, at 8 p.m., follows the 2022 production of Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and featuring the Coro de Manos Blancas, an ensemble of deaf and hard of hearing performers, as well as performers with visual and cognitive impairments from Venezuela. The production, created for both deaf and hearing audiences through the Dudamel Foundation, combined Venezuelan Sign Language (LSV) by deaf actors with singing by hearing vocalists and was performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The U.S. Premiere will be given by the New York Philharmonic, under the musical direction of Gustavo Dudamel, and that showcase, set for Nov. 7, will include performances of music from “Fidelio” as performed by members of the  Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard vocal students, and Deaf actors engaged through Deaf West Theatre. Actor and filmmaker Bradley Cooper will also be in attendance to moderate a discussion with Dudamel, Valverde, and Deaf West Theater Artistic Director DJ Kurs. This showcase is presented in partnership with Rolex and in collaboration with Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, and DOC NYC.

For the Nov. 10 performance, director Ava DuVernay will moderate a discussion with Gustavo Dudamel, María Valverde, and Deaf West Theater Artistic Director DJ Kurs.

“El Canto de las Manos” is a production of Quinchoncho and Forty Entertainment, in association with The deNovo Initiative and The Breathe Project, and supported by the Hilti Foundation, the Riegler & Deutsch Foundation, Porticus, and the Community Arts Network (CAN).

Delve Deeper into this Story:

• Los Angeles Philharmonic to Tour ‘Fidelio’ in Collaboration with Deaf West Theatre & El Sistema’s Coro de Manos Blancas

• Deaf West Theatre & LA Philharmonic’s ‘Fidelio’