After 17 years, it’s time to say goodbye to the LA Phil’s beloved conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. And it seems only fitting that his final bow at the Hollywood Bowl would be a benefit for Venezuela, Dudamel’s homeland, which suffered traumatic earthquakes on June 24. Bringing together several Venezuelan performers, along with some of Dudamel’s personal favorites, the night became a celebration with two purposes. It was about coming together as human beings, recognizing that we all share this planet and have a responsibility to help one another. Still, it was also about honoring a man whose vibrancy, generosity, and infectious love of music have made him such a magnetic presence in Los Angeles.
For someone unfamiliar with many of the Venezuelan singers and musicians taking the stage, the evening also became a wonderful night of discovery. Hosted by actor Édgar Ramírez, the concert opened with Meme del Real, the Latin Grammy-winning Mexican musician, composer, producer and founding member of the iconic band Café Tacvba. His infectious guitar playing and gorgeous melodies immediately set the tone for an evening that would continually shift between celebration, reflection and some truly remarkable musicianship.
See Also: Concert Review: Another Memorable Celebration of the World’s Favorite Film Composer!
Of course, Gustavo addressed the enormous Bowl audience, thanking them for their support not only throughout the years, but also for showing up to help our South American neighbors rebuild their lives. Throughout the night, we were repeatedly reminded that Venezuela is part of the Americas and, ultimately, that we are all sharing this Earth. It could have easily felt heavy-handed, but it never did. Instead, the message felt genuinely inspiring, even as images of the devastation from just two short months ago appeared onscreen.
Other performers in the first half of the evening included handsome Venezuelan pop singer Lasso, American indie sensation Beck, the stunningly talented Venezuelan cellist Gregorio Nieto, and Spanish-language pop artist Carlos Vives, whose infectious blend of pop and rock with Colombian vallenato music has helped bring the genre to audiences far beyond the Spanish-speaking world.
One of the most stunning sections of the evening, however, belonged to five musicians who needed little more than their instruments to command the Bowl completely. During an extended musical interlude, each was allowed to take center stage and show off a frankly ridiculous level of dexterity and skill. Cuatro player Jorge Glem, harpist Eduardo Betancourt, master maracas player Juan Ernesto Laya, bassist Elvis Martínez and traditional bandola player Moisés Torrealba each had their moment to wow the audience. It was one of those wonderful reminders that you don’t have to know anything about an instrument (or even have seen one before) to recognize when someone has absolutely mastered it.
Multi-award-winning Latin American recording artist Natalia Lafourcade then blessed the Bowl with several songs from her catalog, much to the delight of fans who sang along at the top of their lungs.
GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer Giveon performed one of the hits from his sophomore album, while Nella and Adria Duque joined the wonderful Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) for a moving performance of the anthem “Venezuela.”
And it should be noted that the LA Philharmonic was hardly sitting on the sidelines waiting for its conductor’s big farewell. The orchestra performed with each act throughout the evening, adding richness to the songs and voices and creating an aural symphony that soared through the iconic Bowl. Hearing such different artists and musical styles backed by the LA Phil was one of the night’s special pleasures.
But it was the friendship between Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin and Gustavo Dudamel that brought the evening home, ending the concert with a quartet of songs, plenty of affection and a lot of good-hearted banter.
The LA Phil joined Martin and Dudamel on Coldplay’s beloved ballad “Fix You,” which, to be fair, seemed a bit off until Martin admitted afterward that he had absolutely no idea how to follow a conductor’s baton. So, for his next number, “Viva La Vida,” he solved the problem by plopping himself directly in front of his friend, who happily helped him find the beat.
Martin spoke openly about his love for Dudamel and their 12-year friendship, then solidified that admiration with an adorable original song called “San Gustavo.” Part tongue-in-cheek and filled with love, the number found Dudamel seated on a throne and draped with a sash while Martin serenaded him. It was silly, sweet, and somehow completely appropriate for a man whose relationship with music has always seemed rooted as much in joy as it is in artistry.
The two friends joined together one last time for the evening’s finale, Coldplay’s “feelslikeimfallinginlove.” And really, what better way to say goodbye to Gustavo? “It feels like I’m fallin’ in love / You’re throwin’ me a lifeline / This is for a lifetime / I know.”
Because it isn’t only Gustavo Dudamel’s extraordinary talent that Los Angeles is losing, it’s his exuberance. His warmth. That enormous smile. The almost childlike joy he seems to find in music and his ability to somehow pass that joy along to everyone watching him.
Gustavo Dudamel may be moving from LA to NYC, but after 17 years, he has left an unmistakable imprint on this city and its music. The City of Angels is losing one of its brightest angels, and he will be deeply missed.
For more information and for tickets to upcoming bowl events, visit www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Upcoming Shows:
David Byrne: Who is the Sky? Aug 28th & 29th
Smooth Summer Jazz: The Commodores, Boney James, Sheila E.
John Williams: Maestro of the Movies Sept 4th-6th
