No city loves its stars quite like Los Angeles, and no star has felt that embrace more warmly in recent years than Gustavo Dudamel, artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The 29-year-old Venezuelan's first season wielding the baton here quite simply turned the town on its music-loving ear, and the love fest resumes this weekend with the first of three special performances at the Hollywood Bowl.
On Sunday, he'll conduct a concert version of Bizet's "Carmen," with Natasha Petrinksy singing the title role. Tuesday's program includes Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with pianist Gabriela Montero, and selections from Bernstein's "On the Town." And on Thursday, in his final Bowl concert of the summer, Dudamel and company will perform international works that includes Ravel's "Bolero."
Meanwhile, when he's not wearing the tux, here's how the maestro orchestrates his weekends.
Visions of home
For breakfast or lunch, I usually like eating at my home in the Hollywood Hills, which reminds me of the hills back in Caracas. I've lived in Los Angeles for a year and have great views of this incredible city. Another good place for a view of Southern California is the Griffith Park Observatory. It also helps that it's close to where I live and work.
