Gustavo Dudamel's Final LA Phil Concerts: A Farewell to a Boundary-Breaking Maestro

Gustavo Dudamel will lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic in his final four concerts as music and artistic director this week at the Hollywood Bowl, starting Thursday night. The program includes Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and the world premiere of Michael Giacchino's "Hymns of the Heart," a piece inspired by Dudamel's inclusive musical vision. Giacchino, known for film scores like "The Incredibles" and "Up," collaborated with poet Amanda Gorman, the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, and students from Education Through Music to create the work. Dudamel's tenure with the LA Phil, beginning in 2009, has been marked by adventurous programming that blends classical, film, and Latin American music, as well as appearances at the Oscars, Coachella, and the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show with the Muppets. He also conducted the world premiere of "Marvel's Infinity Saga Concert Experience" at the Hollywood Bowl in 2024, wearing the Infinity Gauntlet and using a Vibranium baton presented by Kevin Feige. Dudamel will become artistic director of the New York Philharmonic, leaving Los Angeles after a farewell that includes concerts with the Foo Fighters and Latin artists like Lila Downs and Los Tigres del Norte. His departure is marked by a sense of loss for the city, as he has been a unifying figure in music.