Dudamel presents his inclusive vision at the NY Philharmonic

NY. Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel presented on Wednesday, at the New York Philharmonic’s spring gala, a youth-oriented and pop culture-conscious vision of the future, in anticipation of his arrival at the helm of the symphony. .

Dudamel brought rapper Common, guitarist and former Yankees player Bernie Williams and several music students to the stage as part of the orchestra’s celebration.

The gala was a preview of the Venezuelan maestro’s next direction of the oldest orchestra in the United States, which will begin in the 2026-27 season, when he ends his position at the helm of the Los Angeles Philharmonic after 17 seasons.

I am convinced that the future of society begins with the education of young peopleDudamel told the audience.

I am very excited about our future together.he added, in reference to his landing in New York.

Although he is not yet in charge of the Big Apple orchestra, he has already begun working on the configuration of its programming.

The incorporation of Dudamel, 43, was a coup for the New York Philharmonic, founded in 1842 and determined in recent years to modernize its image.

The management of the entity invested 550 million dollars in the renovation of the David Geffen Room, its headquarters in Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

Dudamel described the music as fundamental human right and emphasized the role transcendental what can play in the lives of young people. The director invited several music students to play alongside the company’s artists.

Also taking the stage was hip hop star Common, who paid homage to the genre’s New York roots before performing songs like Glory, song that won an Oscar with the film Selma.

Bernie Williams, who played 16 seasons on the New York Yankees baseball team, in addition to being an accomplished guitarist, performed a jazz composition.

Like many classical music institutions, the New York Philharmonic has been trying for years to renew its image, which some critics have called elitist.

During his stay in Los Angeles, Dudamel strengthened ties with Hollywood while his fame catapulted, bringing classical music to ears perhaps unfamiliar with the genre, even intimidated by what it involves.

Born on January 26, 1981 in Barquisimeto (Venezuela), son of a trombonist and a singing teacher, Dudamel cultivated his talent thanks to the Venezuelan musical education program El Sistema.

When he moved to the United States, he wanted to bring all that knowledge to the little ones, and created the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, known as YOLA, following the El Sistema model.

We have to educate people, but in the best way, not putting art on an inaccessible pedestalhe declared to reporters last year at a press conference in which he introduced himself as the next musical and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic.

When you give a child an instrument, you give him beauty, you give him the opportunity to create his own worldhe claimed.

Their performance on Wednesday was a confirmation of that vision of the future, with young musicians as a top priority.

It is a commitment to create a future in which we all feel safe and heardhe expressed.