Gustavo Dudamel is leaving Los Angeles. But the city has a few years to prepare itself for the departure of one of its favorite sons.
The renowned conductor will move to New York and take over as music director for the New York Philharmonic in 2026.
Dudamel shared the story via Instagram, where he wrote, “Today, I am honored to be named the next music and artistic director of the @nyphilharmonic, joining Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscani and Leonard Bernstein.”
He continued, “I look at the world before me in New York City with joy and excitement, and with pride and love for the world.” Dudamel added, “We are all united in our belief that culture creates a better world, and in our dream that music is a fundamental right. I look forward to the work ahead.”
The news comes just hours after the famed conductor was announced as part of the Hollywood Bowl’s 2023 season, where he will share duties with some of the world’s leading conductors and one weekend with composer John Williams.
The New Yorkers certainly have an idea of what they’re getting into in scoring this coup to lure Dudmel away from the West Coast. A headline for the newspaper’s classical music critic’s comment asked The New York Times: “Will Gustavo Dudamel be New York’s New Bernstein?” Critic Zachary Wolff wrote that its landing was “a seismic event for the city’s cultural scene.”
NY Full Board Co-Chairs Peter May and Oscar Tang said: “We are thrilled to welcome Gustavo Dudamel as the next Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic. Building on this great legacy of the orchestra, he is distinguished joins a historic list of music directors. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are delighted that Gustavo Dudamel has said yes to leading our artistic future.
NY Phil President-CEO Deborah Borda, who was on the Walt Disney Concert Hall board in 2010, said, “This is a dream come true for our musicians, our audience and certainly for me. A great orchestra, a visionary. Music and Artistic Director come together, and our transformed hall promises to be the richest of the future.
Dudamel has emerged as a rare, widely recognized face of classical music.
He has been in California since he was 28, taking over from Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director of the LA Philharmonic in 2009 and adding the title of artistic director in 2015.
His going to New York will be a big loss. The conductor is considered such a celebrity that, in 2019, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“He can walk down the street and he’s a celebrity,” says Graham Parker, president of Universal Music’s classical division, which includes the label Dudamel is signed to, Deutsche Grammophon. “It’s a very exciting thing for classical music, that someone is recognized outside of the classical world. He has the ability to connect with Phil’s audience and the Spanish-speaking community and is very respected by the performing community. has that complete package.”
As part of his legacy in Los Angeles, Dudamel launched the Dudamel Fellows to provide opportunities for young conductors around the world to develop their skills through personal mentoring and participation in the LA Phil’s orchestral, education and community programs. go
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