LA Philharmonic officials have suggested that Dudamel could conduct something at the Chavez funeral.Los Angeles (ANTARA News) - Venezuelan conductor and Los Angeles Philharmonic maestro Gustavo Dudamel is skipping a show to travel to Caracas for Hugo Chavez`s funeral, the LA Times reported.
Dudamel -- a product of Venezuela`s revered youth orchestra program "El Sistema" (the system), which primarily caters to poor students -- might lead a concert tied to the late president`s funeral, the newspaper reported.
The sought-after conductor is also the music director of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, which is based in Caracas.
Dudamel was due to leave Los Angeles immediately after a Thursday evening performance of "The Gospel According to the Other Mary" at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Philharmonic`s downtown home.
Grant Gershon, artistic director of the LA Master Chorale, will conduct the Friday evening performance, while Dudamel is expected to be back in time for the next performance on Sunday. There is no Saturday show scheduled.
LA Philharmonic officials have suggested that Dudamel could conduct something at the Chavez funeral, but details have not yet been worked out, according to the LA Times.
Dudamel, 32, has been music director at the LA Philharmonic since 2009. A spokesman for the orchestra declined to comment, referring AFP to Venezuela`s El Sistema for more information.
Chavez, who was a vocal supporter of El Sistema, died on Tuesday aged 58, after a long battle with cancer.
(Uu.H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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