Gustavo Dudamel Leads The Simon Bolivar Symphony At Carnegie Hall

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Published December 11, 2012 at 11:08 AM EST

1 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela at Carnegie Hall in New York. It's an orchestra he's directed for 14 years, since he was just 17 years old.

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela at Carnegie Hall in New York. It's an orchestra he's directed for 14 years, since he was just 17 years old.

2 of 12 — The double bass section files in. The orchestra was formerly known as the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra. The musicians, and Gustavo Dudamel himself, are products of the El Sistema music education program in their native Venezuela.

The double bass section files in. The orchestra was formerly known as the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra. The musicians, and Gustavo Dudamel himself, are products of the El Sistema music education program in their native Venezuela.

3 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel wades through the orchestra just before the start of the Carnegie Hall concert.

Gustavo Dudamel wades through the orchestra just before the start of the Carnegie Hall concert.

4 of 12 — Thirteen players strong, the double basses had plenty to bow about in the colorful music presented on the concert from Mexican composers Carlos Chávez and Silvestre Revueltas, and Cuban composer Julian Orbón.

Thirteen players strong, the double basses had plenty to bow about in the colorful music presented on the concert from Mexican composers Carlos Chávez and Silvestre Revueltas, and Cuban composer Julian Orbón.

5 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel says that conducting this orchestra is like being in a family. He has known most of these young players (the oldest is about 30) since they were all kids.

Gustavo Dudamel says that conducting this orchestra is like being in a family. He has known most of these young players (the oldest is about 30) since they were all kids.

6 of 12 — Like many of the children in Venezuela's El Sistema program, some of the young players in the Simón Bolívar Symphony came from troubled backgrounds. The goal of the program, begun in the 1970s, was to provide an escape from poverty and crime.

Like many of the children in Venezuela's El Sistema program, some of the young players in the Simón Bolívar Symphony came from troubled backgrounds. The goal of the program, begun in the 1970s, was to provide an escape from poverty and crime.

7 of 12 — There was a full house at the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for this concert, the first of two nights for Gustavo Dudamel and his Simón Bolívar Symphony.

There was a full house at the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for this concert, the first of two nights for Gustavo Dudamel and his Simón Bolívar Symphony.

8 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel's musical charisma is felt regularly on at least two continents. He has led the Simón Bolívar Symphony of Venezuela since he was a teenager, and he is now in his fourth season as the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Gustavo Dudamel's musical charisma is felt regularly on at least two continents. He has led the Simón Bolívar Symphony of Venezuela since he was a teenager, and he is now in his fourth season as the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

9 of 12 — Dudamel brought a challenging program of works that show off his orchestra, including the incendiary La Noche de los Mayas by the enigmatic and hard-drinking Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas. The piece ends with chaotic percussion and the blowing of a conch shell.

Dudamel brought a challenging program of works that show off his orchestra, including the incendiary La Noche de los Mayas by the enigmatic and hard-drinking Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas. The piece ends with chaotic percussion and the blowing of a conch shell.

10 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel shakes hands with musicians after conducting the concert. He has a habit of plowing straight into the orchestra to congratulate his players.

Gustavo Dudamel shakes hands with musicians after conducting the concert. He has a habit of plowing straight into the orchestra to congratulate his players.

11 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel and his orchestra accept the wild enthusiasm from the Carnegie Hall audience, in a program of rarely heard Latin American works.

Gustavo Dudamel and his orchestra accept the wild enthusiasm from the Carnegie Hall audience, in a program of rarely heard Latin American works.

12 of 12 — Gustavo Dudamel takes a bow after conducting the Simón Bolívar Symphony. But the show wasn't over quite yet. He led the orchestra in three encores, ending in an ecstatic version of Leonard Bernstein's "Mambo." The composer's daughter Jamie Bernstein was in the hall.

Gustavo Dudamel takes a bow after conducting the Simón Bolívar Symphony. But the show wasn't over quite yet. He led the orchestra in three encores, ending in an ecstatic version of Leonard Bernstein's "Mambo." The composer's daughter Jamie Bernstein was in the hall.

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel brings the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela — the orchestra he's led since his teen years — to Carnegie Hall with a program of thrilling Latin American music.

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