Verdi's Requiem - Dudamel conducting the LA Phil

[Guest LeoWalker]

This past weekend I attended the LA Phil's Saturday night performance of Verdi's Requiem, as directed by Gustavo Dudamel at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Completely amazing...was so hyped with the anticipation of Dies Irae and Tuba Mirum that I had forgotten how beautiful the Requiem and Kyrie were.

 

I wasn't prepared, and only caught the two I was anticipating. Even still, trying to be discreet, I only three-fourths of the way through focused the camera on the philharmonic.

 

Enjoy:

[+ deej]

Dudamel is well-known for the big blows like the Requiem of course.

 

Many critics claim he's all flash and no substance; that without the big blows he won't be able to sustain a career in the more mundane repetoire. I tend to disagree.

 

If anything limits his career, it will be the musicians' union and its limits on rehearsal time. He's accustomed to "El Sistema" in Argentina, where rehearsal time is more readily available. Of course it all washes out. The big blows tend to take less rehearsal time so he can play to what he's known for, and everyone's happy in their predictions.

 

For now, the "Solti sound" is alive and well and living in Los Angeles and we're lucky to have it!

[Guest greatness]

In Dan Brown's new book

 

Dies Irae is mentioned... It is a wonderful music. Thank you for your post! The dialogues in the book can be a bit predictable, I think. I am currently reading Sarah Palin's Going Rogue. It's nice to learn the history of Alaska and her people.

 

Dies Irae