May 18, 2014

Life in Pictures: Gustavo Dudamel

Photo: Michael Schmelling/New York Magazine

For the latest edition of “Life in Pictures,” 33-year-old Gustavo Dudamel, wunderkind director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, allowed photographer Michael Schmelling to follow him around for 12 hours (during which he had two performances) on May 10. Click through the gallery ahead for a day jam-packed with conducting, composing, and schmoozing.

*This article appears in the May 19, 2014 issue of New York Magazine.

10:58 a.m. Sometimes because of the traffic in Los Angeles, I arrive [at Walt Disney Concert Hall] just in time to go to the stage. I don’t have time even to think. You learn to go to the stage so natural.

10:58 a.m. Sometimes because of the traffic in Los Angeles, I arrive [at Walt Disney Concert Hall] just in time to go to the stage. I don’t have time even to think. You learn to go to the stage so natural.

11:35 a.m. Today I conducted a YOLA [Youth Orchestra LA] performance. The cellist on my right, he was a baby when I became music director. Now he’s the first cello of the youth orchestra. That is so beautiful.

11:35 a.m. Today I conducted a YOLA [Youth Orchestra LA] performance. The cellist on my right, he was a baby when I became music director. Now he’s the first cello of the youth orchestra. That is so beautiful.

1:23 p.m. That’s what El Sistema is about; it’s a social program that says through music you can change the life of the children. They are coming from disadvantaged communities.

1:23 p.m. That’s what El Sistema is about; it’s a social program that says through music you can change the life of the children. They are coming from disadvantaged communities.

1:33 p.m. I took advantage of time in the car to study the score of Mozart’s opera Così Fan Tutte, which we will be performing at the end of the month.

1:33 p.m. I took advantage of time in the car to study the score of Mozart’s opera Così Fan Tutte, which we will be performing at the end of the month.

2:03 p.m. Look, these are great tacos that my assistant Kassandra introduced me to. From Guisados. They are delicious. Especially the quesadillas. And it’s very close to the hall. I went for the tacos because I eat arepas at home.

2:03 p.m. Look, these are great tacos that my assistant Kassandra introduced me to. From Guisados. They are delicious. Especially the quesadillas. And it’s very close to the hall. I went for the tacos because I eat arepas at home.

7:25 p.m. I wrote the music for a film called Libertador. It’s a film about Simón Bolívar. He’s like the George Washington of Venezuela. We are doing a suite of music from the film and Bill Ross, a composer, is helping me cut from 90 minutes to 15.

7:25 p.m. I wrote the music for a film called Libertador. It’s a film about Simón Bolívar. He’s like the George Washington of Venezuela. We are doing a suite of music from the film and Bill Ross, a composer, is helping me cut from 90 minutes to 15.

7:57 p.m. My wife is coming only to say, you know, Do the best for the performance. She is always doing that. Since I started this international career she has been there next to me supporting me. That is beautiful.

7:57 p.m. My wife is coming only to say, you know, Do the best for the performance. She is always doing that. Since I started this international career she has been there next to me supporting me. That is beautiful.

7:58 p.m. I have to put first the cuff links, and then close the shirt, and it has to be in order. I’m sorry, but I’m crazy a little bit.

7:58 p.m. I have to put first the cuff links, and then close the shirt, and it has to be in order. I’m sorry, but I’m crazy a little bit.

8:01 p.m. The cuff links are designed by a Venezuelan designer, Tarbay. They were designed special for me but they are a little small so someone has to help me.

8:01 p.m. The cuff links are designed by a Venezuelan designer, Tarbay. They were designed special for me but they are a little small so someone has to help me.

8:05 p.m. My God, I have to conduct!

8:05 p.m. My God, I have to conduct!

Ay yi yi, my God!

Ay yi yi, my God!

8:35 p.m. We played something by my good friend [fellow Venezuelan] Paul Desenne. He’s doing some searching about some things that he wants to do.

8:35 p.m. We played something by my good friend [fellow Venezuelan] Paul Desenne. He’s doing some searching about some things that he wants to do.

8:42 p.m. When I decided on this piece, I was thinking, look, we have to give opportunities to these great and talented composers to be part of this program. He had a standing ovation. That was beautiful.

8:42 p.m. When I decided on this piece, I was thinking, look, we have to give opportunities to these great and talented composers to be part of this program. He had a standing ovation. That was beautiful.

8:55 p.m. [Piano soloist] Lang Lang is my good friend, and I love him. He’s full of energy and he’s a very sparkling man. I love to work with him because he listens to the orchestra.

8:55 p.m. [Piano soloist] Lang Lang is my good friend, and I love him. He’s full of energy and he’s a very sparkling man. I love to work with him because he listens to the orchestra.

10:22 p.m. I’m very happy. I’m crazy. [Laughs.] You know, people who say that they are crazy are not. So I’m crazy, and I’m not, at the same time. [Belly laughs.]

10:22 p.m. I’m very happy. I’m crazy. [Laughs.] You know, people who say that they are crazy are not. So I’m crazy, and I’m not, at the same time. [Belly laughs.]

10:33 p.m. We have board members there. Eating. Planning things. Talking about the future, I think, is very important. My drink is a very, very, very, very dirty vodka martini. With three olives. Yes, it has to be three olives all the time.

10:33 p.m. We have board members there. Eating. Planning things. Talking about the future, I think, is very important. My drink is a very, very, very, very dirty vodka martini. With three olives. Yes, it has to be three olives all the time.

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