Gustavo The Great

Bob Simon Profiles One Of The Biggest Stars In Classical Music, Gustavo Dudamel

(CBS)  Who's the world's greatest conductor? You could debate that question for days. Who's the world's most precocious conductor? Hands down it's Gustavo Dudamel, a shaggy haired prodigy from Venezuela, who has become classical music's newest rock star.

Gustavo started taking music lessons when he was four. When he was 15, he was named conductor of Venezuela's national youth orchestra. Ten months ago, at the ripe old age of 26, the Los Angeles Philharmonic hired him as its next music director.

Gustavo Dudamel is simply the hottest thing to hit classical music since Leonard Bernstein. But in the world of music, why talk? Better to look, and listen.

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Aside from the hair, the first thing you might notice about Gustavo Dudamel is the joy, the exuberance, the passion, the energy, with which he conducts. The hair bounces, the arms fly. He is a man possessed, conducting Beethoven, but doing a ballet. Watching Dudamel conduct is mesmerizing, and audiences around the world can’t get enough of him. But don’t think of him as a talented newcomer. Despite his youth, Gustavo sees himself as a weathered veteran.

"I'm not too young," he tells Simon. "I'm 26."

"You're an old man," Simon remarks.

"I'm a very old man, Dudamel says, laughing. "No, you know. I feel you know, I start to conduct orchestras when I was 12 years old."

But Dudamel says it's not true when he sees himself described as a genius, prodigy, or wunderkind. "I think that I need to learn a lot, a lot. I think that this is my beginning," he says.

Gustavo exploded onto the international stage in 2004, with a lot less hair but just as much energy. He was one of 16 people invited to compete for the Mahler Prize, the world's most prestigious competition for young conductors. And he won. One of the judges was the L.A. Philharmonic's conductor, who after seeing Gustavo, called Los Angeles to talk to his boss, Deborah Borda.

"And he said, 'Well, actually, I just saw the most amazing young conductor. He's a 24-year-old Venezuelan kid. He barely speaks English. And Deborah, he's a real conducting animal,'" Borda recalls, laughing.

It was the beginning of a global phenomenon known as "Dudamel-mania." Newspapers and magazines started covering his every move. A German company signed a recording contract with him. He was sought after to conduct orchestras around the world. Even the pope commanded a performance. But the music world was stunned when the Los Angeles Philharmonic hired him to be its next music director.

"I think that the atmosphere exists here for him to really change musical history," Borda says. "Gustavo has an ability to communicate what is passionate and vital about music in a very 21st century way."

[placidgirl8]

This young man is truly a messenger from the gods....what a wonderful story, and a wonderful young man with a high purpose.

[marcia224]

I loved your great interview with Gustavo the Great. He is wonderful and it was exciting to watch him
conduct that beautiful music. You do wonderful interviews and I love to watch you,too. Didn''t I see you in front of the Mann Auditiorium, Tel Aviv,before a Mahler concert about two months ago? You do get around.........keep it up.

[ccward4]

Could someone please tell me the name of the Bernstein piece heard at the end of the segment?

Thanks!

[jessorr-2009]

And what is the name of the piece played just before the piece by Bernstein (the violin duet)? I know it is famous, but I just can''t find it.

[sharingpeace]

I had the biggest smile and feeling of awe, watching this amazing young man ~ truly an angel has come to L.A. to inspire and invigorate... thank you SO MUCH for introducing us to him!!!

[ccward4]

Would someone please tell me the name of the Bernstein piece being performed at the end of the segment?

Thanks

[slantz2-2009]

Bravo Gustavo! We need a generation of Gustavo''s who care about and believe in our youth - who expect excellence in all areas.

I attended a high school play this week that was filled with bathroom and food humor only a twelve year could find amusing. I was embarrassed and hurt for these young people, who have so much to give and from whom so little is expected.

[High Desert Charlie]

I cried "Tears of Joy", as I viewed the segment on 60 Minutes highlighting Mr. Gustavo Dudamel.

Director Dudamel has accomplished something that very few have in the past 30 years. He has taken me back to remember and appreciate the role that music played for me as a young man. It was through music, and more specifically the kind of music performed by Director Dudamel, that I realized the beauty that is available for all of mankind. Not the kind of beauty that is usually reserved only for the privileged, but instead the kind of emotion, rage, joy and evocative power that can only be realized from learning, hearing, and performing awe inspiring music.

At the age of 26, Director Dudamel is setting a wonderful example for the rest of the music world. His practice of taking young children off of the streets and sitting them down with an instrument will change all of their lives forever. By changing their lives through music and teaching them the beauty that is there for all of us to enjoy and appreciate, he also changes generations of children to follow. Thank God for Gustavo Dudamel.

As an alumni of the American Youth Symphony and Chorus (1971), well performed orchestral music has always been my secret mistress. I will really look forward to stepping out for a night with Gustavo Dudamel and his LA Symphony in 2009.

I hope you can add this to what I''m certain will be many accolades for Gustavo. Cheers, and best wishes for continued success.

Warmest Regards

Charles Sheets

[rileyu-2009]

Jessorr, the violin duet you are referring can be found on iTunes under the title:

Scent of a Woman, Tango (Por Una Cabeza) - performed by Itzhak Perlman

[rileyu-2009]

Jessorr, the violin duet you are referring can be found on iTunes under the title:

Scent of a Woman, Tango (Por Una Cabeza) - performed by Itzhak Perlman

[vegasboomer]

I''ve just posted that segment on my Vegas music blog. This kid is totally inspiring. See

http://santafeandthefatcityhorns.blogspot.com

While our genre is soul, salsa, jazz music, we support the musical arts in all of their forms (well, maybe not gangsta rap).

Gustavo, BRAVO, young man!

[partypoet]

Hi, CCWard 4 - the music that Dudamel was conducting at the end of the segment was the Dance sequence from West Side Story.

[alfredo27-2009]

Hi Gustavo
I remember when you began as a director of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Venezuela. I am very proud to see how from the violin, you were given the opportunity to show how great your evolution was into an amazing director; we all trusted in you. As a Physician, it was great to colaborate with all of you and get involved in local and international events. Awesome representation of the excellent professionals Venezuela has. Good luck now here in the USA; a beutiful country with tons of opportunities for people like you.
Dr. Alfredo Navarro
Michigan, USA

[aperez56]

At last, a segment about Latinos without illegal, gangs or drugs as the main focus. Your piece was very inspirational and I would like to offer my website at calmagazine.com to share it with the millions of Latinos living in the US. Bravo Gustavo! Bravo 60 Minutes!

[aperez56]

At last, a segment about Latinos without illegal, gangs or drugs as the main focus. Your piece was very inspirational and I would like to offer my website at calmagazine.com to share it with the millions of Latinos living in the US. Bravo Gustavo! Bravo 60 Minutes!

[aperez56]

This story must be shared with all Latinos living in the US and I would like to offer my website as a vehicle for CBS to do just that. Bravo Gustavo! Bravo 60 Minutes!

[aperez56]

This story must be shared with all Latinos living in the US and I would like to offer my website as a vehicle for CBS to do just that. Bravo Gustavo! Bravo 60 Minutes!

[amlapb]

I had the pleasure,to see the last minutes of the show,to see tremendous display of love for the Art of Music, it can only be compared with the Master of yesteryears, take in to account the young age of this man, the future will be His Throne,being a Poet myself currently working at the Conservatory of Music in Canada for many years,never have I ever seeing such
passion since Amadeus. ( Mozart)...I give a nine out of ten...time will be the essence of His greatness...Humbleness...will bring a Crown

[aadowning]

What an awesome segment. Mr Dudamel also conducts the GSO,Gothenburg Symphony in Sweden where he has taken over the city. My daughter is a bass player in that orchestra and she thinks he is fantastic.

[aadowning]

What an awesome segment. Mr Dudamel also conducts the GSO,Gothenburg Symphony in Sweden where he has taken over the city. My daughter is a bass player in that orchestra and she thinks he is fantastic.

[nirak2-2009]

So do I aadowning.
He is incredible and a great talent and on top of that,he is modest which makes him even more likeable.
I am not even into that kind of music, but watching him gets you interested.

[etmcdo]

you heard it here first???? where were you when chicagoens had the pleasure of hearing him months ago

[icon-o-guy]

I think he's great for bringing new folks to classical. He has star qualities.

[jm-business]

Wow! Mr Dudamel is pure passion! This is an inspiring story. Great pick 60 Minutes!