SALONEN PASSING L.A. PHIL BATON TO DUDAMEL.Byline: David Mermelstein Correspondent As the Los Angeles Philharmonic The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LAP) is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. History Founded in 1919 by William Andrews Clark, Jr. introduced its new music director Monday -- the 26-year-old photogenic photogenic /pho·to·gen·ic/ (-jen´ik) 1. produced by light, as photogenic epilepsy. 2. producing or emitting light. pho·to·gen·ic adj. 1. and much-heralded young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel Gustavo Dudamel Ramírez (born January 26, 1981) is a Venezuelan conductor. Biography Dudamel was born in Barquisimeto in the state of Lara. He studied music from an early age, and took up the violin when he was 10. He soon began to study composition. -- it was clear that his appointment came with the blessing of Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen ( ) (b. June 30 1958) is a prominent Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. . "Ultimately, the only way you measure a conductor is what happens on the box and whether he delivers or not. And Gustavo does," said Salonen, who is leaving to devote more time to composing. "It's a combination of a brilliant technique but also a musicianship that is unusually dynamic and kind of original. He doesn't copy others. He does his own thing. He's not trying to sound like some old master. And he has the means to do that. And he's just a very electrifying e·lec·tri·fy tr.v. e·lec·tri·fied, e·lec·tri·fy·ing, e·lec·tri·fies 1. To produce electric charge on or in (a conductor). 2. a. performer." Dudamel will take over the post when Salonen steps down at the end of the 2008-09 season. He has a five-year contract with the orchestra through the 2013-14 season. The Latino connection That Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. has a large Latino population was not lost on either the orchestra or Dudamel. "It's very special that L.A. has a big Latin community," said Dudamel, who last appeared with the L.A. Philharmonic in January. "And this is special for me because I'm Latin, but the important thing is to have people of all communities here listening to music. If we can call to the Latin people, I'm sure they will be here." When he leaves, Salonen -- music director since 1992 -- will be the longest-serving music director in the Philharmonic's 88-year history, surpassing by one season a record currently held by Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta (b. April 29, 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. Video: Kennedy Center Tribute to Zubin Metha Video: Conducting the Israel Philharmonic with the young violinist Viviane Hagner Video: Conducting the Los Angeles Philharmoic in 1977 , who left the post in 1978. Salonen has long been rumored to be planning his exit from the orchestra to devote the bulk of his time to composing. But the timing and, more important, the bundling of the news surprised most classical-music watchers. In just four days, Salonen and the orchestra begin revisiting Richard Wagner's epic opera "Tristan und Isolde Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. " in a series of programs titled "The Tristan Project." The high-profile effort, designed by video artist Bill Viola and directed by Peter Sellars, is also the centerpiece of the orchestra's residency at New York's Lincoln Center starting April 29. The announcement is especially noteworthy, since orchestral succession can be a rancorous ran·cor n. Bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will. See Synonyms at enmity. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin, rancid smell, from Latin process involving rumor and innuendo innuendo n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward." In law it means "an indirect hint." "Innuendo" is used in lawsuits for defamation (libel or slander), usually to show that the party suing was the person about whom the nasty statements were made or why the comments . He's 'our guy' None of that applies here. Salonen says he knew Dudamel was "our guy" early this year but didn't expect the announcement this fast. "I'm really happy that we did it now. The cat is out of the bag ... and Gustavo gets to know the city and make his artistic plans." The young director is involved in 10 concerts next season. On two of those dates, he will lead the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, where he has been music director since 1999. It is with this ensemble that his reputation largely rests, though he has earned good, sometimes glowing, notices conducting far more prestigious orchestras throughout the world. Dudamel will also conduct the Philharmonic in two programs, which tellingly include "Insomnia," a work written by Salonen, and Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe Daphnis and Chloe is the only known work of the 2nd century AD Greek novelist and romancer Longus.[1] Setting and style It is set on the isle of Lesbos during the 2nd century AD, which is also assumed to be the author's home. ," one of Salonen's signature works with the orchestra. Fiddler under Phil's roof In addition, Dudamel will join members of the Philharmonic for a chamber concert on March 26, 2008, at which he will play the violin, the instrument he studied before pursuing conducting. Among the more striking features of the joint departure-appointment announcement are the parallels between the 48-year-old Salonen and the 26-year-old Dudamel. Each made his American debut with the L.A. Philharmonic, Salonen at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center (which is one of the three largest performing arts centers in the United States). The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. in 1984, and Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl in 2005. Both also possess charisma on the podium and are typically labeled handsome. Salonen has gained increasing recognition for his compositions -- his first piano concerto, commissioned by the New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842. Based in New York City, the Philharmonic performs most of its concerts at Avery Fisher Hall and has long been considered one of the best orchestras in the world. , received its premiere in February -- but he remains most famous as a conductor. He is frequently credited with having raised the Philharmonic's technical standards to unprecedented heights and is also often lauded for bringing new music into the traditionally fusty precincts of the concert hall, though he has endured criticism of such moves by the Philharmonic's more conservative patrons. Salonen's legacy and the L.A. Philharmonic's rising stature aren't lost on Dudamel. "You need to be a chameleon. This orchestra can play everything from Palestrina, Bach, whatever, to Salonen, and this is wonderful. This is a flexible way to make music. And this will be in my time, too. This is one of the things that is exciting about the orchestra. And thanks to Esa-Pekka, he made the orchestra very flexible." CAPTION(S): photo Photo: L.A. Philharmonic music director Esa-Pekka Salonen, left, and 26-year-old Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel share a moment during Monday's news conference. Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press |
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