Dudamel

Undoubtedly the brightest new star in the classical music scene is the young Venezuelan conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. A product of the Venezuelan state-run music education program known as "El Sistema," he was discovered at the age of 23 when he won the International Mahler Conducting Competition in Germany. Classical music loves prodigies; the meteoric trajectory of his career since really isn't all that uncommon among musicians (see: Mozart, Hilary Hahn, Jacqueline DuPre, Leonard Bernstein, etc.). Following the competition, Dudamel found himself in demand around the world, and became and apprentice of sorts to two of the most prominent conductors on the planet, Simon Rattle and Claudio Abbado. The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra engaged him as principle conductor in 2007, and Dudamel is currently in his first season as musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He's a surprisingly accessible and warm person, and orchestra rave about his approachability and ability to communicate his passion for music. Here's a video of him leading a conducting master class with the Philharmonia Orchestra and some young British conductors:



Dudamel is now only 28, but he's already being heralded as the second coming of Bernstein--an incredible musician and excellent educator and pedagogue. Not to mention the fact that he's might have the most raw talent in conducting Mahler since Bernstein--particularly in the Fifth. I can hardly wait for him to record the Second, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth; his Third with the La Scala Orchestra in Milan was revelatory.

Since beginning his tenure as chief conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he's done an amazing job modifying El Sistema for students across Southern California. I really hope his work catches on elsewhere; El Sistema has been incredibly successful in giving disadvantaged young people purpose in life, and it's rightfully considered the crown jewel of arts programs in South America. In Southern California, where arts programs in schools have been all but decimated by budget cuts, an El Sistema-light is probably needed more than in any other place in America.

Here's Dudamel at the 2007 BBC Proms in London with his Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, conducting Arturo Marquez's Danzon No. 2.



I'm looking forward to seeing what Gustavo Dudamel brings to the LAPO--their relationship is still in its nascent stage, and it's impossible to predict how orchestras will ultimately respond the their directors. But Dudamel is certainly lucky to inherit the LAPO after Esa-Pekka Salonen's wildly successful reign. I'm betting that their collaboration will be central to American music for years to come.