On Sunday, May 3, 2026, the Palisades Symphony & Chorale will present a monumental performance of César Franck’s rarely heard masterpiece, Rédemption. This extraordinary piece is written for large forces, uniting a massive choir, a full symphony orchestra, a radiant soprano soloist, and a dramatic narrator to create an immersive spiritual odyssey.

The Piece
A “Poème-Symphonie” of Light and Shadow Rédemption is what Franck termed a poème-symphonie—a “symphonic poem” for voices and orchestra that paints a dramatic narrative through music. To bridge the gap between the music and the audience, the narration will be delivered in English, narrated by the critically acclaimed actor and voice artist Will Collyer. To preserve the work’s authentic Gallic lyricism—the uniquely flowing and elegant melodic style characteristic of French Romanticism—all solo and choral sections will be performed in the original French.

The story traces humanity’s journey from the “selfish darkness” of the ancient world toward a future radiant with divine grace. At the heart of the work lies the magnificent Morceau symphonique, a massive “symphonic movement” of exhilarating orchestral power that reflects the world’s transformation through a message of hope.

The Architecture of Unity
Franck, often remembered for his “monastic devotion” to music, crafted this piece using cyclic form—a refined technique where a single “musical germ” or founding theme recurs throughout the work to bind its different movements into a single, unified entity. The result is an “architecture of transcendence” that moves between intense chromatic turbulence and ethereal resolution.

Featured Artists
The performance features the “refined technique” and “artistic excellence” of soprano Siyeon Kim as the Archangel. A candidate for a Doctorate of Musical Arts and the CEO of Angels Lyric Opera, Ms. Kim is an international award-winner whose voice has been praised for its “impeccable phrasing” in major roles ranging from Violetta in La traviata to the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte.

Delivering the narrative thread is the critically acclaimed actor and voice artist Will Collyer. A graduate of UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film & Television who was directed in a leading role by Carol Burnett, Mr. Collyer has guest-starred on prime-time television and appeared on iconic stages such as the Mark Taper Forum. His “stylish and impassioned” delivery, well-known from narrating best-selling audiobooks and voicing characters for Disney/Pixar and Marvel, brings a powerful clarity to this spiritual journey.

Leading this vast ensemble is the master Maestro Dr. Maxim Kuzin, the Music Director of the Palisades Symphony & Chorale. A conductor of profound expertise, Dr. Kuzin has commanded the podiums of Eastern Europe’s most prestigious philharmonics—including the National Symphony of Ukraine—and brings a skillful vision to this complex, large-scale work.

The musical engine behind this monumental event is the Palisades Symphony & Chorale, a cornerstone of the Southern California arts community since 1966. As one of California’s oldest and most respected community ensembles, the Symphony brings together a vibrant collective of skilled musicians to provide the “large forces”—the massive instrumental and choral power—demanded by Franck’s exultant score.

Experience the “devotional intensity” of a work that is both moving and triumphant—a rare chance to witness one of the nineteenth century’s most ambitious musical monuments in the heart of Santa Monica.

Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Mount Olive Lutheran Church
1343 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

FREE ADMISSION | DONATIONS ARE WELCOME