Skip to page content

Born between 1965 and 1980, Generation X is the dark horse demographic dwarfed in number by the Boomers and Millennials on either side. While small in number, their collective impact on our culture continues to be felt today. Combining orchestral concerts curated by Thomas Adès with popular presentations and humanities conversations, the LA Phil’s Gen X festival takes a multidisciplinary, multi-genre look at the slackers, hackers, and latch-key kids who were born analog and became digital. 

The LA Phil's Humanities Programs are generously supported by Linda and David Shaheen.

event photo

Voices of a Generation

Gen X Festival

Thomas Adès both curates and conducts an evening featuring an international selection of Gen X composers, and violinist Pekka Kuusisto shines in music by Francisco Coll and the U.S. premiere of Adès’ Märchentänze.

Learn More

Program

    • Anna MEREDITH
    Nautilus
    • Felipe LARA
    Brutal Mirrors
  • Intermission
    • Veronika KRAUSAS
    Caryatids
    • Francisco COLL
    Four Iberian Miniatures
    • Thomas ADÈS
    Märchentänze (U.S. premiere)

Artists

  • Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Thomas Adès, curator & conductor
  • Pekka Kuusisto, violin
event photo

Corigliano and Norman

Gen X Festival

Learn More

Program

    • Jonathan Bailey HOLLAND
    Stories from Home
    • Andrew NORMAN
    Play: Level 1
  • Intermission
    • John CORIGLIANO
    Symphony No. 1

Artists

  • Teddy Abrams, conductor
  • Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Thomas Adès, curator
event photo

GEN X
Alarm Will Sound

post-concert performance

Learn More

Program

    • Alyssa PYPER
    Cradle
    • Andrew HAMILTON
    Music for people who like art

Artists

  • Alan Pierson, conductor
  • Alarm Will Sound
event photo

Dudamel Leads Adès’ Dante

Gen X Festival

Gustavo Dudamel premieres Thomas Adès’ ambitious vision of heaven, hell, and the in-between.

Learn More

Program

    • Thomas ADÈS
    Dante (U.S. premiere; commissioned by the LA Phil and The Royal Ballet, with generous support from the Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund)
  • I. Inferno
  • Intermission
  • II. Purgatorio
  • III. Paradiso

Artists

  • Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
  • Los Angeles Master Chorale
event photo

I Heart the Valley

At The Ford

A Multimedia Panel about the real San Fernando Valley from the people who grew up there

Learn More

Artists

  • Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, host & curator
  • Karen Tongson, curator
  • Patrisse Cullors, panelist
event photo

Waiting to X-hale

At REDCAT

The Gen X festival’s Humanities co-curators take the stage for a live podcast recording

Learn More

Artists

  • Waiting to X-hale podcast
  • Karen Tongson, host
  • Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, host
  • Kevin Smith, guest
  • Sandra Bernhard, guest (via Zoom)
event photo

Let the Record Show: A Conversation with Sarah Schulman

At the Mark Taper Auditorium, Los Angeles Central Library

A Reading and Conversation about the Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993

Learn More

Artists

  • Sarah Schulman
  • David Román, moderator
event photo

From Spago to Latchkey Cuisine: LA Food in the 80s and 90s with Evan Kleiman

At Second Home Hollywood

Tasting and panel featuring new takes on LA’s influential cuisine

Learn More

Artists

  • Evan Kleiman, moderator
  • Diep Tran, panelist
  • Mary Sue Milliken, panelist
  • Karen Tongson, curator
  • Courtney Storer, chef
  • Laura Hoang, chef
  • Krem Miskevich, chef
  • Ria Dolly Barbosa, chef
event photo

Queer Utopias on the Dancefloor and Beyond

At Zebulon

A celebration of Los Angeles' LGBTQ+ community circa 1990

Learn More

Artists

  • Karen Tongson, curator & co-host
  • Raquel Gutiérrez, presenter & co-host
  • My Barbarian, guest artist
  • Crystal Waters, guest artist
  • DJ Irene, guest artist
event photo

Liz Phair: Don't Holdyrbreath

Gen X Festival

Liz Phair performs the greatest songs from her catalog, and special guests play Gen X hits.

Learn More

Artists

  • Liz Phair
  • Bethany Cosentino
  • Lisa Loeb
  • Remi Wolf
  • Vagabon
event photo

Sunshine and Noir: 1980s L.A. Horror Marathon

American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre

Learn More

Artists

  • Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, curator
  • Cinematic Void at the American Cinematheque, curator