Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new music director, displays his energetic style in conducting Mahler’s First Symphony on Friday at Disney Concert Hall. Wrote Los Angeles Times music critic Mark Swed: “... In the Finale of Friday’s Mahler, Dudamel missed no tricks and invented quite a few new ones. We’re in for quite a ride.” (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Chinese virtuoso Wu Wei performs “Su,” composer Unsuk Chin’s concerto for the sheng, a mouth organ, on Friday. Though it premiered in Tokyo this summer, Chin’s score was commissioned for Dudamel’s opening week and underwritten by L.A. Philharmonic patrons. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Gustavo Dudamel congratulates Wu Wei after his performance Friday on “Su.” Wu Wei has premiered 130 contemporary works and his wide-ranging repertory even includes a sheng arrangment of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
“Su” composer Unsuk Chin, lower right, also receives recognition from Gustavo Dudamel, left, after the concerto was performed Friday by the L.A. Philharmonic and Wu Wei, lower center. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
