674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?

Composer David Lang’s oratorio, *The Wealth of Nations*, transforms Adam Smith’s 250-year-old economic treatise into a profound exploration of human connection and moral responsibility. By blending Smith’s foundational text with diverse historical voices, including Eugene Debs and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the composition challenges the common perception of economics as a cold, purely transactional system. Instead, the music highlights the human cost of global commerce and the necessity of empathy in a functioning society. Through the collaboration with the New York Philharmonic and conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the project demonstrates how art serves as a mirror to societal inequities, urging listeners to recognize the humanity behind every transaction. Ultimately, the piece posits that true prosperity requires equity, justice, and a collective commitment to the well-being of all members of society, rather than the unchecked pursuit of self-interest.