Gustavo Dudamel
A true phenomenon in every sense of the word, the Venezuelan orchestral director Gustavo Dudamel, born in Barquisimeto in 1981, entered the international scene in his early twenties. Having been selected to be the musical director of the Youth Orchestra Simón Bolívar in Caracas when he was merely eighteen years old, he gained a considerable head-start in terms of experience, turning him into Venezuela’s rock-star of classical music.
It all began in the underprivileged country of Venezuela, where Dudamel learnt the basics of music from his mother and father, who were a singing teacher and trombonist respectively. At six years old, he was able to sight read Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and conduct an imaginary orchestra in front of his parents. He first played the violin when he was ten, thanks to the famous ‘El Sistema’ programme, which he was lucky enough to take part in. The scheme was founded in 1975, with the aim of getting children off the streets and putting them into orchestras, to help them escape the drugs and violence which are sadly widespread throughout Latin America. In this way hundreds of thousands of children found themselves holding a clarinet rather than a machine gun, a violin rather than a bag of glue to sniff… a very worthy enterprise which made its mark worldwide. The young artist’s outstanding talents, such as his impressive memory and charismatic leadership, quickly transported him to the best orchestral spheres worldwide. He also received a helping hand from Simon Rattle, who spotted him in 2003 and made him his assistant. Winning the ‘Gustav Mahler’ Conductor’s Competition the following year, Dudamel was supported and advised by Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim.
From there everything progressed very quickly for the young conductor. From the Orchestra Bolivar, Dudamel passed to the Orchestre de Göteborg in Sweden, taking over from Neeme Järvi, finally making his debut at the Scala de Milan with Don Giovanni. At 28 years old he became Esa-Pekka Salonen’s successor as the head of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles.
The experience Dudamel gained from the El Sistema social programme convinced him that accessing beauty can change someone’s life, and that art, as vital as food or strength, is not mere entertainment, but a language that can touch one’s heart. He also held dear what José Abreu, the founder and conductor, once taught him: ‘Musicians must feel like they can blindly trust you’. Following this maxim, Dudamel places a large emphasis on the preparation of his programmes. When asked about his expressive gestures while conducting, he replied that they are simply a sincere reflection of his emotions, which express themselves through music.
© Qobuz 2015
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Rachmaninoff: The Piano Concertos & Paganini Rhapsody
Yuja Wang, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Sep 1, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Norman: Sustain
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Aug 30, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler 9 (Live From Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles / 2012)
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 25, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
John Adams: The Gospel According To The Other Mary
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Mar 10, 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Var. 18. Andante cantabile
Yuja Wang, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Mar 31, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charles Ives: Complete Symphonies
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Aug 28, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Debussy: La mer / Stravinsky: The Firebird (Live At Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles / 2013)
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Mar 14, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No.3 - "Eroica"; Overtures
Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jun 15, 2012
Prise de Son d'Exception24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, TH 14 (Live at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles / 2013)
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Nov 16, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
New Year's Concert 2017 / Neujahrskonzert 2017
Gustavo Dudamel, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel & Wiener Philharmoniker
Symphonic Music - Released by Sony Classical on Jan 9, 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Discoveries
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Oct 6, 2009
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gustav Mahler : Symphony n° 5
Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Oct 1, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven : Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
Gustavo Dudamel, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sommernachtskonzert 2019 / Summer Night Concert 2019
Gustavo Dudamel, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Sony Classical on Jul 19, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 / Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16 (Live)
Yuja Wang, Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Oct 8, 2013
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jul 29, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand"
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jun 7, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Theme (From "Jurassic Park" / Live At Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles / 2019)
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Feb 15, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dudamel - Discoveries
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Thomas Adès: Dante, Pt. I “Inferno”: XII. The Thieves—devoured by reptiles
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Classical - Released by Nonesuch on Feb 1, 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Discoveries
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Oct 6, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo