Free Republic

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...

Los Angeles Philharmonic Presents Celebración: Opening Night Concert and Gala Live on Classical KUSC Thursday, October 7th at 7 PM The Los Angeles Philharmonic and Music Director Gustavo Dudamel usher in the 2010/11 season with the Celebración: Opening Night Concert and Gala, Thursday, October 7th, at Walt Disney Concert Hall and broadcast live on Classical KUSC. The orchestra is joined by renowned Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, a close friend of Dudamel, in his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut...

Gustavo Dudamel is back in town, and Thursday night he conducted a magnificently theatrical performance of Verdi’s Requiem that felt like his first real concert as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. All Los Angeles, of course, knows that last month Dudamel began his tenure with a free event at the Hollywood Bowl, and that was followed by nervous-making high-profile programs in Walt Disney Concert Hall the next week.