N.Y. Philharmonic chief looks to Gustavo ‘Dudamel era’ after historic appointment
By Olivia Hampton, Leila Fadel
When the New York Philharmonic‘s current music director, Jaap van Zweden, announced he would be leaving his post next year, president and CEO Deborah Borda had only one new maestro in mind: Gustavo Dudamel.
“There are so many things that are remarkable about Gustavo Dudamel,” Borda tells NPR’s Leila Fadel. “But I think number one is his ability to communicate with both musicians and audiences and to express pure joy in music. And this is something that we simply can’t quite put into words. It’s spontaneous combustion.”
The 42-year-old Venezuelan’s charismatic approach has made him one of the world’s most sought-after conductors. He will officially lead the oldest symphony orchestra in the U.S. starting with the 2026-27 season, for an initial five-year term, beginning as music director designate in the 2025-26 season. Dudamel follows in the footsteps of giants such as Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini and Leonard Bernstein, all former New York Philharmonic music directors.