Los Angeles is beginning to say goodbye to one of its most beloved cultural icons. As Gustavo Dudamel prepares to leave his post as Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic after nearly two decades, the city has launched a heartfelt campaign titled "Gracias Gustavo" to commemorate his 17 transformative years at the helm. More than a farewell, the initiative doubles as a city-wide celebration of a conductor who has profoundly reshaped the sound—and soul—of classical music in Southern California.
The campaign is centered around the 2025–26 concert season, which has been curated as a musical narrative of Dudamel's legacy. The season will feature 14 programs that reflect the maestro's wide-ranging artistry—from the grandeur of Wagner's Die Walküre, reimagined with futuristic scenic designs by architect Frank Gehry, to an emotionally resonant interpretation of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.
Several of the concerts will incorporate elements that go beyond music, including multimedia and architectural collaborations that speak to Dudamel's multidisciplinary approach. "This season is not just a goodbye, it's a love letter," said Chad Smith, CEO of the LA Phil.
Dudamel's impact is perhaps most powerfully felt outside Walt Disney Concert Hall, through YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), the free music education program he helped expand. Thousands of children from underserved neighborhoods have learned not only how to read music, but also how to find confidence, community, and purpose through artistic expression.
"For Gustavo, music is not just performance—it's social transformation," said Angelica Cortez, executive director of YOLA. Under his leadership, the LA Phil has grown to embody values of inclusivity, cultural relevance, and civic responsibility in ways that few classical institutions have achieved.
In February 2023, the New York Philharmonic announced that Dudamel would become its next Music and Artistic Director beginning in the 2026–27 season. The move is historic: he will be the first Latino to lead the orchestra since its founding in 1842. While the East Coast institution gains one of the most electrifying conductors of our era, Los Angeles is savoring every remaining moment. From bus shelter posters and video retrospectives to special community concerts and merchandise, "Gracias Gustavo" ensures his final season will be etched into the city's cultural memory.
Tickets for the farewell season are already in high demand, with classical aficionados and longtime fans eager to witness the close of a remarkable era. For many Angelenos, Dudamel is more than a maestro—he's a symbol of artistic hope. And now, as the baton passes, the music continues.
@gustavo.dudamel Una función inolvidable de Mi tierra veracruzana con @Natalia Lafourcade en el @HollywoodBowl, el pasado verano con la @losangelesphilharmonic y la YOLA 👏 _ An unforgettable performance of Mi Tierra Veracruzana with Natalia Lafourcade at the Hollywood Bowl last summer with the LA Phil and YOLA 👏
♬ original sound - Gustavo Dudamel
