A new large-scale participatory work by David Lang
Produced and directed by Dimitri Chamblas and Kate Nordstrum
In development for spring 2027 premiere
warm up is a new performance project for 1,000 singers that transforms the familiar structure of a choral warm-up into a layered, immersive artistic experience. Composed by David Lang and directed by Dimitri Chamblas and Kate Nordstrum, the work builds from simple vocal exercises into a rich, evolving composition that integrates sound, movement, and collective presence.
Drawing on Lang’s deep engagement with choral practice, the piece reimagines the warm-up not just as preparation, but as performance – where the act of coming together becomes the artwork itself. Subtle physical gestures accompany the vocal material, creating a visual and kinetic dimension that expands the communal experience.
Importantly, warm up is designed to extend beyond its core group of 1,000 participants. Because it is rooted in accessible, intuitive structures, audience members are invited to join in, gradually dissolving the boundary between performer and spectator. What begins as a rehearsed ensemble unfolds into a shared, participatory environment.
Following earlier large-scale works such as crowd out and public domain, this project continues an exploration of collective action and temporary communities. warm up proposes a simple but powerful idea: that a group can gather, listen, and build something together in real time – expanding from a choir into a fully inclusive communal body.