Feb. 17, 2008
Gustavo The Great
Bob Simon Profiles One Of The Biggest Stars In Classical Music, Gustavo Dudamel
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Play CBS Video Video Simon's Reporter's Notebook Bob Simon talks about his upcoming profile on conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who at the age of 26 was named the next music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
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Video Gustavo The Great Flamboyant, passionate and young, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is one of the biggest stars in classical music. Bob Simon reports.
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Gustavo Dudamel (CBS)
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Fast Facts Venezuela Learn about the people, economy and history.
Gustavo was in town with his wife Eloisa to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic. In between rehearsals, he cloistered himself in his hotel room studying the score for one of the biggest performances of his life.
"Is this the first time you're conducting the Vienna Philharmonic?" Simon asks.
"It's my first time in real version of the orchestra. I was conducting when I was a kid," Dudamel says.
"In your imagination," Simon asks.
"In my imagination yes, I remember, when I was six years old, I was conducting all this concert in my house. But now it's real," Dudamel explains.
Every conductor knows what he wants from an orchestra and it's his job to get it. So here was this kid from Venezuela telling musicians from the venerated Vienna Philharmonic, many of whom were old enough to be his grandparents, that what he wanted from them was blood!
"Is good this but the blood is not coming. You know, you are killing really good, really wild but it’s without blood. The blood need to be in your face - wham - wham - wham - now we have blood. A lot!" he told them.
"When you're conducting you look like you're utterly transported. Can you describe what's going through your mind?" Simon asks.
"It's depends about how I feel. You know you can make different pictures of what is happening. But always is different," Dudamel says.
Gustavo doesn’t rely only on his hands to let the orchestra know how he wants them to play. He tells the musicians what he wants them to feel.
"But this is like, it’s beautiful but, it’s like you are telling something like 'You know, I love you. I want to kiss you, hey.' No. It’s something like you are here very close, and you say: 'I love you!' And she will be 'Ooh! Yes!' We are telling, we are speaking to her or to him, whatever, really normal and we need to convince her to go to the church. And…," he told the musicians.
The performance was a triumph, and it brought even the taciturn Swiss to their feet.
When it was over, the wunderkind was drained.
"This was a big party , I feel very happy, I have more energy now," Dudamel tells Simon.
Produced By Harry A. Radliffe II
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See all 24 CommentsHe 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.
passion since Amadeus. ( Mozart)...I give a nine out of ten...time will be the essence of His greatness...Humbleness...will bring a Crown
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
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!
Scent of a Woman, Tango (Por Una Cabeza) - performed by Itzhak Perlman
Scent of a Woman, Tango (Por Una Cabeza) - performed by Itzhak Perlman
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
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.
Thanks
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