Gustavo Dudamel recently concluded a high-profile series of performances with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center and Washington Heights, showcasing the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
On Freakonomics Radio, hosts and guests reflected on the intensity of these rehearsals. One observer noted, "It was also interesting watching Gustavo Dudamel up close. He was really into it. I mean, he was really inside the piece." Composer David Lang recalled the pressure of the conductor's meticulous process, noting, "Gustavo was asking for detailed notes about every movement, and this sent me into a little bit of a terror."
Despite the high stakes of the world premiere, the collaborative atmosphere remained surprisingly collaborative. Stephen Dubner remarked on the lack of ego in the room, asking, "what surprised me, I'll be honest, was how I'd say 99% of the time you'd give them a big thumbs up and say, 'Beautiful. It's beautiful.'"
Following his work in New York, Gustavo Dudamel has turned his attention to Los Angeles, where the Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced he will transition into the roles of Artistic and Cultural Laureate and Founding Director and Conductor Laureate of YOLA as he begins rehearsals for Wagner's Die Walküre.
