{"id":442315,"date":"2026-08-24T21:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442315\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T21:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:10:09","slug":"what-gustavo-dudamels-final-weekend-shows-at-the-hollywood-bowl-were-like-daily-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442315\/","title":{"rendered":"What Gustavo Dudamel\u2019s final weekend shows at the Hollywood Bowl were like \u2013 Daily News"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the end, as Gustavo Dudamel,<\/a> wrapped up his 17 years as leader of the Los Angeles Philharmonic<\/a> at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, Aug. 23, there was an outpouring of love.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a wonderful night,\u201d Dudamel said as the end of A Concert for Venezuela<\/a>, his final performance as music and artistic director, neared\u00a0its conclusion. \u201cYou know, I have spent the last 17 years of my life in this city. A city that welcomed me with very, very open arms, and that I have come to call my home.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen years later, I can say I am an Angeleno,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe extraordinary journey that brought me here changed completely my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Foo Fighters play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Gustavo Dudamel conducts his next-to-last time with the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 22, 2026 before he heads to NYC. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Nella and Adria Duque as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Leni<\/p>\n

Leni and Jon Boorstin wear vintage t-shirts welcoming Gustavo Dudamel for his first concert as conductor in 2009. Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Foo Fighters play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Gustavo Dudamel conducts his next-to-last time with the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 22, 2026 before he heads to NYC. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by the cellist Gregorio Nieto as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by the cellist Gregorio Nieto as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Natalia Lafourcade as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Giv\u00e9on as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Natalia Lafourcade as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Giv\u00e9on as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Natalia Lafourcade as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Giv\u00e9on as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Giv\u00e9on as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Chris Martin as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Chris Martin as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Natalia Lafourcade as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Caf\u00e9 Tacvba\u2019s Meme as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Caf\u00e9 Tacvba\u2019s Meme as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Caf\u00e9 Tacvba\u2019s Meme as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Caf\u00e9 Tacvba\u2019s Meme as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by the cellist Gregorio Nieto as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Carlos Vives as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Leni<\/p>\n

Leni and Jon Boorstin wear vintage t-shirts welcoming Gustavo Dudamel for his first concert as conductor in 2009. Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Foo Fighters play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Gustavo Dudamel conducts his next-to-last time with the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 22, 2026 before he heads to NYC. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Gustavo<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel conducts his next-to-last time with the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 22, 2026 before he heads to NYC. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Foo Fighters play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Gustavo Dudamel conducts his next-to-last time with the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 22, 2026 before he heads to NYC. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 41<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel is joined by Beck as he leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic for A Concert for Venezuela, an earthquake relief benefit and his final performance as conductor in Los Angeles before heading to New York, on Sunday August 23, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

He thanked the musicians behind him on stage. On Sunday, he\u2019d led a musical fundraiser for earthquake relief in his home country of Venezuela; on Saturday, he and the L.A. Phil had backed the Foo Fighters;<\/a> and on Friday, he and a host of Latin music stars threw a fiesta of song.<\/p>\n

\u201cGracias, gracias, gracias, gracias for every single second that we have shared together, and that we will share, of course, in the future too, c\u2019mon,\u201d Dudamel continued, speaking to the orchestra and audience alike, and promising that even after he moves to the New York Philharmonic in September, he\u2019ll return as guest conductor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a very young boy coming from Venezuela,\u201d Dudamel said of his start in Los Angeles in 2009. \u201cI was called, like, \u2018a conducting animal.\u2019 I don\u2019t know why, but maybe because the hair, which grows now to gray, which I\u2019m very proud of.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, we have started from a simple idea. There is only one music, and tonight I want to thank you, my dear Los Angeles. To this wonderful audience that has embraced me, embraced us during these years, and gave all the love that you have given, all of this wonderful energy that you send.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we have the lights there to see them? Is it possible?\u201d Dudamel asked as lights illuminated the packed Hollywood Bowl. \u201cYou are all amazing. I can say only one phrase. I love you so much, Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shouts of \u201cI love you, Gustavo!\u201d had cut through the silent moments at times throughout Sunday night, but now the entire audience cheered loudly in unison.<\/p>\n

Then, after a performance by singer Chris Martin of Coldplay<\/a>, more on that in a moment, Dudamel took his final bows as conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.<\/p>\n

Well, almost final. With a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes, he returned for three more curtain calls, bowing and crossing his arms over his chest in a hug-like gesture, before finally he was gone, though the love remains eternal.<\/p>\n

Sunday: A Concert for Venezuela<\/p>\n

After Dudamel\u2019s heartfelt remarks on Sunday, he promised \u201ca little gift for you to discover.\u201d Turns out it was a Chris Martin-sized gift sitting in the orchestra with a microphone who started to sing a moment or two later.<\/p>\n

After a beautiful orchestral take on \u201cFix You,\u201d Martin and Dudamel upped the energy with \u201cViva la Vida,\u201d and its story of a monarch who lost his kingdom. A Dudamel reference? Nah, that came next in the highlight of the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met Gustavo at a party about 12 years ago,\u201d Martin said. \u201cAnd I fell in love with him. As a heterosexual man, it confused me,\u201d he continued, Dudamel, the orchestra and audience all erupting in laughter. \u201cAnd I realized that it wasn\u2019t so much sexual as musical in the way that I wanted to cuddle him forever. And we\u2019ve been cuddling musically ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning to Dudamel, whom Martin had now placed in a chair with a sash like a monarch on his throne, Martin told Dudamel he\u2019d written a song for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a song about a loved one leaving you and going far away,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re sad, and you\u2019re heartbroken that they\u2019re leaving. But you send them away with love and with prayers and with just a feeling of gratitude for the time you had together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like this song may be appropriate for us as people who live in Los Angeles to you, Gustavo, our great love, who is leaving, but we send you with such grace and gratitude on your travels. Because wherever you go, you\u2019re going to bring light and love and we\u2019re going to be grateful for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a beautiful speech, and the song? Well, it was beautiful, too, but also hilariously funny as Martin shifted from his heartfelt lyrics, some of which he sang in Spanish, to the absurd, as the singer got more and more dramatic and emotional.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my God,\u201d Martin sang in Spanish. \u201cI\u2019m so sad. Crying a river. I miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n

By now, Dudamel was shaking his head and laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way an orchestra is designed. We mainly stared at your behind,\u201d Martin sang, again in Spanish. \u201cSo never mind. We\u2019re still behind you, further away.\u201d<\/p>\n

And so it went, with laughter and no doubt some tears, until \u201cSan Gustavo,\u201d the title Martin joked that Duolingo promised him meant \u201cSt. Gustavo,\u201d was finished and Martin and the LA Phil wrapped up the night with \u201cFeelslikeimfallinginlove.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier, A Concert of Venezuela had mixed music with calls for donations to help the nation after it was hit by two powerful earthquakes on June 24.<\/p>\n

Meme Del Real from Cafe Tacuba, the Venezuelan pop star Lasso and L.A.\u2019s own Beck each sang with Dudamel and the L.A. Phil early in the show. Venezuelan cellist Gregorio Nieto played \u201cStella Aria,\u201d a gorgeous piece composed by actor Anthony Hopkins on whose new album Nieto and Dudamel collaborated.<\/p>\n

Colombian star Carlos Vives did a pair of high-energy songs with the orchestra before intermission. After the break, Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade wowed the crowd with her powerhouse vocals, joined at one point by a choir from Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, one of Dudamel\u2019s proudest achievements during his tenure in the city.<\/p>\n

Long Beach native Giveon sang a slow-jam R&B love song with the orchestra, after which Venezuelan singers Nella and Adria Duque duetted on \u201cVenezuela,\u201d an ode to the beauty, strength and grace of that nation.<\/p>\n

\u201d Let\u2019s not say \u2018last concert,\u2019 because it\u2019s not a last concert; it will never be a last,\u201d Dudamel had said shortly after the start of Sunday\u2019s concert. \u201cI want to thank all of you for the generosity of being here tonight, embraced by the music and sending all of this beautiful and powerful energy to our beloved Venezuela.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a world that keeps dividing us, when we have the chance to gather here, and I see all of you sitting here, all very tight, very close together, enjoying some good food, some good drinks, but mostly, again, the beautiful power of music, I have hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we are one world. One. One,\u201d Dudamel continued. \u201cAnd we can see that when we get united we can be very powerful. We can create beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday: Foo Fighters<\/p>\n

Foo Fighters had never before played the Hollywood Bowl, and singer-guitarist Dave Grohl was pumped that he and the band were making their debut with Dudamel and the L.A. Phil on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually in this part of the program, I ask the audience if they love rock and roll music,\u201d Grohl told the audience after the Foo Fighters kicked off their night with \u201cTimes Like These\u201d and \u201cAll My Friends.\u201d \u201cDo you love rock and roll? Do you love rock and roll?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, but tonight I\u2019m going to ask this question for the first time,\u201d\u00a0Grohl\u00a0said as the cheers of this packed house of rock-and-roll-loving fans died down. \u201cDo you love\u00a0Dudamel? Do you love Dudamel? Me, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo let\u2019s play some rock and roll for Mr. Dudamel now,\u201d he finished. \u201cThat\u2019s what we came here to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the rest of the hour and 40 minutes, the band and the orchestra sharing the stage was one of the best rock band-orchestra shows you could ever hope to see. Too many times the orchestra is drowned out by the rock band or simply not given enough to play to make a significant difference in the songs.<\/p>\n

Not so here. In song after song, the Foo Fighters and the L.A. Phil matched each other for passion and power. On some, such as \u201cA320,\u201d \u201cI Should Have Known,\u201d or \u201cRazor,\u201d the orchestra opened or had sustained sections where they carried the bulk of the songs. [Grohl had noted that some songs, including those, were chosen because of how well they\u2019d work in this setting.]\n<\/p>\n

Others, including \u201cThe Sky Is a Neighborhood,\u201d which included a gospel choir, and \u201cEverlong,\u201d the 15th and final song of the set, simply benefited from the additional textures and tones of the combined band and orchestra.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish we could do this every [bleepin\u2019] night for the rest of our lives,\u201d Grohl said before \u201cEverlong,\u201d occasionally strumming his guitar strings as he spoke. \u201cWith all of these amazing people. I mean, c\u2019mon, whether it\u2019s Gustavo, the choir, the orchestra, you have to give it up for the actual musicians tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Long, loud cheers fall from every row of the amphitheater.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an honor to come and be invited to this hallowed ground, this special place,\u201d Grohl continued. \u201cTo be able to give Gustavo one more big rock show before he has to leave this wonderful city. And then to share this experience with all of your guys. It\u2019s so amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday: Gustavo\u2019s Fiesta<\/p>\n

Friday night was billed as Dudamel\u2019s \u201cmusical love letter to Los Angeles,\u201d and in particular, the city\u2019s vast, diverse Latin community and culture.<\/p>\n

The trio Los Panchos opened the show with a performance of romantic ballads and boleros. Founded in 1944 and currently led by Chucho Navarro Jr., the son of one of the founding members, songs \u201cB\u00e9same Mucho\u201d and \u201cHistoria de un Amor\u201d struck a classic, nostalgic feeling that surely spoke to multiple generations in the audience.<\/p>\n

They were followed by Vilma Diaz, the Colombian singer known as \u201cthe diva of the cumbia,\u201d who, with her nine-piece band, got hips swaying throughout their set to rhythms of songs, including a cumbia-infused take on \u201cLa Bamba.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spanish singer Silvia P\u00e9rez Cruz was a highlight of the early portion of the party. She sang just two songs, but her modern take on traditional music was beautiful. During \u201cTonada de Luna Llena,\u201d a Venezuelan folk song about the full moon, she cried to \u201cla luna\u201d as it appeared in the night sky at the back of the Bowl.<\/p>\n

Her Spanish-language take on Leonard Cohen\u2019s \u201cTake This Waltz\u201d was a gorgeous full circle moment, Cohen having adapted the lyrics from the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca\u2019s \u201cPeque\u00f1o Vals Vien\u00e9s\u201d with a snippet of Cohen\u2019s \u201cHallelujah\u201d at the end.<\/p>\n

The 13 women of Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles who arrived on stage in rose-colored mariachi suits, matching cowboy boots, and wide-brimmed mariachi sombreros. The group, which performed earlier this year with Karol G. at Coachella, received a loud hometown welcome for their two numbers, one of their own, another with Mexican-Indigenous singer Lila Downs.<\/p>\n

Downs and three of the Mariachi Reyna who played Latin guitar-style instruments stayed on stage for the arrival of Dudamel and the L.A. Phil, with Downs delivering a show-stopping dramatic version of the traditional Mexican folk song \u201cLa Llorena.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Los Tigres del Norte, the long-running stars of norte\u00f1o music, arrived as the headlining partners of Dudamel and the orchestra.<\/p>\n

With one and sometimes two accordion players at the same time, Los Tigres made a fascinating musical blend with such classical instruments as French horns and clarinets. They played seven songs, including the slow accordion ballad \u201cGolpes en el Coraz\u00f3n\u201d and \u201cAm\u00e9rica,\u201d during which the band\u2019s six backing dancers came on stage carrying flags of the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Cuba, Venezuela, and Costa Rica.<\/p>\n

As the orchestra stood to leave, Los Tigres cofounder Jorge Hern\u00e1ndez asked Dudamel to stay as the band serenaded him with \u201cJefe de Jefes\u201d \u2013 boss of bosses \u2013 for the legacy he leaves in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Five more numbers followed, with many in the crowd dancing and singing along through the finale of \u201cSomos mas Americanos,\u201d a song like \u201cAm\u00e9rica\u201d and others that celebrates, as Dudamel had with the L.A. Phil, all of the people and cultures of the Americas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the end, as Gustavo Dudamel, wrapped up his 17 years as leader of the Los Angeles Philharmonic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":442316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[2644,8122,48,52,51,47,50,49,6998,420],"class_list":["post-442315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-concerts","tag-hollywood-bowl","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-music-concerts","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/442316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}