Gustavo Dudamel, the new musical and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, hoped to say goodbye to this position, which he held for 17 years, with a series of concerts that would mark the closing of a cycle in which he turned this orchestra into one of the most audacious, influential and innovative in the world.

But two earthquakes of great intensity in his native Venezuela, on June 24, changed the plans and tone of what would be this musician's last concert as director of the LA Phil.

“From the moment we found out [about the earthquakes] I began to think about how we could help in the most immediate way,” Dudamel said in a call he answered from Madrid.

The answer was music. The August 23 concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which would serve to bid farewell to the conductor before his departure to the East Coast - where he officially began his tenure as musical and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic - will now aim to raise funds that will be used to help Venezuela's recovery.

“A Concert for Venezuela—A Benefit to Support Earthquake Relief” will bring together artists and celebrities who have yet to be announced. Dudamel assured that the list will be long and that everyone who participates will donate their work and time, as will the LA Phil, which will be directed by him that night.

All funds will be channeled through international organizations, such as the United Nations Development Program and the Andean Development Corporation.

According to official figures, more than 4,000 people died as a result of the double earthquake that especially affected the La Guaira area, and thousands more are still missing. The material damage is incalculable; More than 190 buildings collapsed and about a thousand structures suffered considerable damage.

Dudamel did not suffer the loss of direct family members, but he did suffer losses of students and teachers who were part of the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, the public musical education program in which he was trained since he was a child.

“At a time like this it is very difficult to make music, but it is the tool that in this case I have,” said the teacher. “I think that last concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as musical director is something very symbolic.”

A busy schedule

Before this final event, Dudamel will have a very hectic few days. On August 20 he will conduct the concert “Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl: Beethoven 9” and the next day he will do the same at “Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl: Gustavo’s Fiesta”, where Los Tigres del Norte, Lila Downs, Mariachi Reyna Los Ángeles, La Sonora Dinamita and Los Panchos will be guests.

On August 22, the host will bring out his rock face in “Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl: Foo Fighters with the LA Phil and YOLA”, a show in which the rock group will perform their hits accompanied by the Los Angeles orchestra.

Making history, such as being the only orchestra director who has participated in the Coachella music festival with his own group, is already customary with Dudamel. Now, the maestro will perform in the first halftime show in FIFA history during the World Cup final to be played this Sunday, July 19 in New Jersey.

Artists such as Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and Coldplay will also perform at the closing of the sporting event.

“Being part of that group is an immense honor,” he said.

Dudamel's legacy in the cultural life of Los Angeles is invaluable, and there are those who claim that the city and the LA Phil will not be the same without him. His daring, his contributions and the previously unthinkable collaborations with artists of genres that seemed so foreign to orchestral music, led this maestro to occupy a place of honor in the universe of classical music.

He, however, does not see his departure as a definitive farewell. The maestro, who will be replaced by British conductor Daniel Harding, already has several events scheduled to return to conduct the LA Phil next season.

Now he's about to write a new chapter in classical music history with the NY Phil. And he has no doubt that he will be able to replicate in the Big Apple the model with which he democratized orchestral music in Los Angeles.

“I am very happy with this new stage with the New York Philharmonic,” he said. “But I think the connection to Los Angeles, that's never going to go away.”

In detail

What: A concert for Venezuela

When: Sunday, August 23 at 7 pm

Where: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles

Information: https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/4361/2026-08-23/a-concert-for-venezuela