Dudamel ticket hopefuls exhilarated, disappointed at Bowl

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Culture Monster reports on the rush for free tickets to the first Los Angeles Philharmonic concert led by its new musical director, the 28-year-old Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

‘Dezi Koster ... is the proud recipient of four free tickets to see 28-year-old Venezuelan wunderkind Gustavo Dudamel, the new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 3, conducting his first concert as leader of the celebrated orchestra.
‘Koster was one of 1,000 people who spent a hot morning in line Saturday at the Bowl, some arriving as early as 5 a.m., with the hope of getting free tickets. Starting at noon, the first 246 or 247 received up to four seats. The rest went home empty-handed as demand outstripped supply. Countless more tried and failed to get tickets by phone and online, but no matter the method, tickets were gone in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

‘The Bowl has long been known for bringing classical music to ordinary people in a casual arena far from the sometimes intimidating confines of the traditional concert hall. But Dudamel and the Philharmonic have taken the populist appeal of the Bowl to a new level by presenting ‘¡Bienvenido Gustavo!,’the first concert of his inaugural season, for free on a first-come, first-served basis.’

Read more here on Culture Monster.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City