Gustavo Dudamel gets ready for takeoff
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Culture Monster has obtained a pair of fun photos showing the L.A. Philharmonic’s Gustavo Dudamel taking time from his busy schedule to goof off in front his new home, the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The pictures were taken by Andrew Eccles, the New York-based commercial photographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and New York magazine. Eccles has shot many celebrities through the years, including Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson and the cast of ‘Gossip Girl.’
He has also photographed his share of classical music deities like Renée Fleming and Wynton Marsalis. In addition, he has shot extensively for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Dudamel took the photos a little more than a year ago, according to orchestra publicist Lisa Bellamore. She said the Philharmonic’s marketing department commissioned the photos for use in promotional media -- such as brochures and posters -- as well as in the press.
To achieve the aerial effects, the crew had Dudamel bounce up and down on a large trampoline, Bellamore said.
Culture Monster thinks the images perfectly capture L.A.’s excitement and anticipation as D(udamel)-day approaches. (Can you imagine any other major conductor taking photos this athletic?)
As fans already know, Dudamel will kick off his tenure as the L.A. Phil’s music director with a free concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct.3. Distribution for tickets starts tomorrow. For a rundown of the ticketing process and to see the second Dudamel photo, continue on.
The five-hour ‘¡Bienvenido Gustavo!’ festival will feature the 28-year-old Venezuelan conducting the orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, as well as gospel, jazz and rock performances by Herbie Hancock, Flea, Andrae Crouch and other well-known artists, plus student performers, local musicians and fireworks.
Expecting an “enthusiastic” public response, the Phil announced it will distribute wristbands to the first 250 people who arrive at the Bowl box office Saturday. The bands, which will be given out at 10 a.m., will guarantee holders a place in line – but not necessarily seats for the show – when tickets become available at noon.
Requests also can be made by calling the box office at (323) 850-2000, with a 75 cent-per-ticket charge for phone orders. Ticketmaster will handle phone and online orders, and its service fees will apply.
Up to four tickets may be requested. Seating will be offered in all sections of the Bowl, which has a capacity of 17,400, except for the Pool Circle, which will be reserved for families in the Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra L.A program, which will be performing at the festival. A number of tickets will be set aside for community outreach efforts, donors and media.
The Philharmonic also has announced that on Saturday ticket-seekers can park for free in the Bowl’s lots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after which the lots will be emptied and regular rates will apply. The box office usually shuts its windows about a half hour after the start of the evening show -- in this case, an 8:30 performance of “Guys and Dolls.” Officials say they will try to serve everyone who is in line at closing time. Phones will be answered until 8:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the box office will be open from noon to about a half hour after the start of the 7:30 p.m. show. Phones will be answered from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
-- David Ng and Karen Wada
