Tonight’s offering is a concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony #1, aka the Titan, on PBS, supposedly at 8 p.m., but check your local listings to be sure. But what makes this edition of Great Performances so special is that it’s a taping of the gala inaugural concert by new LA Phil conductor/music director Gustavo Dudamel.
The 28-year-old Venezuelan wunderkind has been tearing up concert halls around the world. But two years ago, he came to LA and started YOLA – Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, a program based on the program that he claims saved his life in Venezuela. El Sistema. What both programs do is provide instruments and training to underprivileged kids.
I got to see Dudamel conduct YOLA at the big free welcome concert they did about a week before this TV one was taped. It was held at the Hollywood Bowl and Dudamel wanted it to be free. Better yet, youth orchestras and jazz groups from all over the city performed. We had a Cuban jazz pianist who rocked on a classical piece, as well. It was an incredible performance. And while the YOLA kids still need some work, given that they’d only been playing for two years, they did pretty darned well.
Dudamel is a blast to watch on the stand, too. But more importantly, the performance comes out. I’m not a music critic, nor am I that knowledgeable about what should or should not be there. However, I’ve been to concerts where the orchestra phoned it in and you can tell when a conductor is doing his job. Dudamel did a fabulous job with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony that night. Believe me, the part you see on stage is just a fraction of the real work of a conductor. That happens in the rehearsal.
All of which you can explain to your kids as you watch the concert. Watching a concert on TV like this is also an excellent way to expose really young kids to great music. Plus it helps somewhat older kids learn good concert manners, like staying quite and still so that your fellow audience members aren’t disturbed. You might also want to Google Mahler and learn about the composer and what he went through as he composed this piece.
There are all sorts of ways to make a show like this work for a family. All it takes is some creativity. Then sit back and let Gustavo do his work.
Anne Louise Bannon
Your Family Viewer
