Posted on 10/24/2014 2:11:30 PM PDT by EveningStar
When a bushy-haired 28-year-old with a magnetic podium presence became music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic five years ago, Gustavo Dudamel galvanized the classical music world and beyond.
At the Venezuelan conductor's insistence, the gates of the Hollywood Bowl were thrown open to the community, with free tickets for all. After a proud-papa warm-up with youngsters in Youth Orchestra Los Angeles a group inspired and founded by Dudamel he led the L.A. Phil, Master Choral and stellar vocal soloists in an exuberant performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
The Dude, as he was affectionately called, spread the joy of Beethoven's famous "Ode to Joy" as easily as if it were jam on bread. The mood in the Cahuenga Pass resembled that of a victory rally. The concert was front-page news...
So where do things stand now with Dudamel, five years on and midway through his 10-year contract with the L.A Phil? ...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
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Our symphony is hell-bent on programming something old and something new in a given evening. I’m not that well off that I am willing to pay for half of an evening and I just don’t like most modern compositions. An all Mozart concert. Yes. A pairing of Beethoven and Glass. No.
I’m with you.
And I am a Rock Musician.
I can handle some Stravinsky, but that’s about as “modern” as I get.
I have tended to be skeptical of ‘The Dude’. His young fans remind me of the fainting women at Obama speeches. I have heard some extremely ordinary recordings of his that were greatly acclaimed. I’ve also heard some pretty good ones as well. I guess I’m a tad ambivalent about him.
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