A Tribute to Home

When Gustavo Dudamel conducted his final programs at Walt Disney Concert Hall a few weeks ago, he insisted the programs were not a goodbye to Los Angeles or the LA Phil. Still, Classical California was there for the moment and we had the immense honor of broadcasting those concerts live.

Dudamel was, of course, correct: it wasn’t a farewell. Unlike Esa-Pekka Salonen, who did not return to guest conduct the LA Phil the season following his departure as Music Director, Dudamel will be back next season conducting multiple programs. And, he’ll be back even sooner than that.

Bienvenido Gustavo! A Target Free Community Concert - Show

Photo by Mathew Imaging/WireImage

This summer at the Hollywood Bowl.

Technically, Dudamel is still the Music and Artistic Director of the LA Phil. His contract concludes at the end of the summer, so his appearances at the Bowl this year are still part of his 17th season at the helm of the orchestra. Fitting, that Dudamel should officially end his tenure at the same venue where he began it. (He also made his United States conducting debut at the Hollywood Bowl--in 2005 as a 24-year-old.)

What does Dudamel have planned for his final act? Well, it all changed. On June 24, 2026, a series of earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela, devastating the region including the capital city of Caracas. In the state of La Guaira, more than 80% of the buildings collapsed. Nearly 5,000 people were killed and more than 16,000 were injured. The death toll is expected to climb to more than 10,000.

It was the strongest earthquake in Venezuela since 1900.

Immediately, Gustavo Dudamel changed his final LA Phil concert to be a program celebrating music of Venezuela and raising funds to support those most impacted by the earthquakes. A Concert For Venezuela takes place on August 23 at the Hollywood Bowl. Details still to be announced, but we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.

For someone who has always declared that “music is a fundamental human right,” this was a natural pivot. Dudamel has said Venezuela will always be his home and Los Angeles will always be a place where he found home. Now, as he makes one final curtain call, he gives us his tribute to home.