Photo Credit: Riccardo MusacchioGustavo Dudamel

Sunday evenings are a pretty unpredictable time for our busy family of four. Sometimes we may be returning from a weekend trip, other times there are dinners, play dates, numerous things to read, my kids homework folders to empty and whatever random last minute things that need to be done before we start the week. So when I finally had a chance to catch up on several episodes of my favorite venerable Sunday-night newsmagazine 60 Minutes a few days ago, I was thoroughly surprised to discover the amazing and explosive Gustavo Dudamel. Hailed as “the hottest thing to hit classical music since Leonard Bernstein”, let me just say that for those of you who don’t know who he is, it’s time you found out.

Photo Credit: Mathias Bothor / DG

Dudamel is the 27-year old Venezuelan conductor who was recently appointed Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2009-2010 season. As I watched his story unfold, I was captivated and completely engrossed by his overwhelming presence. He is young, passionate, intense, unfiltered, has big, crazy hair, a beautiful young wife and most importantly talent oozing out of his very being. Not only was I intrigued to see this wunderkind of a classical form, it has been quite a long time since the classical music arena has had a rock star in its midst. Finally a young virtuoso to rival Bono, Beck and Radiohead.

Over the past two weeks Dudamel has been taking Los Angeles by storm via limited concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Everyone from Frank Gehry (nicknamed “Pancho” by Dudamel) to Eva Mendes to Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has gone to witness his prowess. The LA Times reports that even the hotdog stand Pink’s on La Brea has made a new flavor in honor of him, the “Dudamel Dog”. They also predict it’s just a matter of time before “Dudamania” eclipses the city of Los Angeles.

Photo Credit: Sylvia Lelli

While he is not scheduled to permanently take his position until next year, Dudamel has a small number of performances scheduled in 2008 that we want to share so get your tickes NOW.

From the Los Angeles Philharmonic:

Gustavo Dudamel, is the LA PHIL’s Music Director Designate for the 2008/09season. He conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic for two weeks of subscription concerts, which include:

• Soprano Christine Brewer in a program that includes Ligeti’s Atmosphères, Strauss’ Four Last Songs and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral” (November 28 - 30, 2008)

• Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder in a program that includes Kurtág’s Stele, Mozart’s Piano
Concerto No. 23 and Strauss’ Alpine Symphony. (December 4 – 7, 2008)

Prior to conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dudamel leads a U.S. tour of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. They perform for one night only at Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring a program of Bernstein and Tchaikovsky. (November 24, 2008).

I’m not exactly sure if it’s nostalgia (my grandmother was a classical pianist), my love of classical music or the fact that my kids love the Star Wars score and don’t realize they are listening to classical music, but it is refreshing to see a very old, studied and established music scene come back around with a fresh perspective and the unadulterated spirit of youth.