Repeating Islands

Among the confirmed events scheduled at the Dominican Republic’s Eduardo Brito National Theater [Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito] for February 2013 is a concert by famed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel. He will have his symphonic debut at the theater’s Carlos Piantini auditorium. This function is hosted by the Symphony Foundation [Fundación Sinfonía] directed by Margarita Copello de Rodríguez.

Gustavo Dudamel was born on January 26, 1981 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He was ten when he took up the violin, and soon was also studying composition. Dudamel, who first picked up the baton at age 11, emerged out of Venezuela’s extensive classical music education program called El Sistema, which some cities in the United States are seeking to emulate. In 1996, he began his conducting studies with Rodolfo Saglimbeni and during the same year was named music director of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra. In 1999, he continued his conducting studies with José Antonio Abreu and was appointed music director of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela (SBYOV), an ensemble founded by Abreu that is widely recognized for its role in transforming the lives of tens of thousands of impoverished youths.

Dudamel is also in great demand as a guest conductor and has worked with the world’s most renowned orchestras and musicians. He is currently principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar Symphony orchestras.

For original article (in Spanish), see http://www.diariolibre.com/revista/2012/12/26/i365159_dudamel-estara-febrero-teatro-nacional.html

Photo and more biographical details at http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/artist/biography?ART_ID=DUDGU