The Dude Is Not In

Gustavo Dudamel cancels at the Philharmonic.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Gustavo Dudamel has the flu. As indicated by the added biohazard symbol.
Original photo by Chris Lee.

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel has cancelled his appearances with the New York Philharmonic this week due to a severe case of the flu. The conductor was scheduled to lead the orchestra in three concerts this week at Avery Fisher Hall.

The announcement came this morning from the New York Philharmonic press department.


Mr. Dudamel was scheduled to lead one of the most ambitious Philharmonic programs of the spring season, featuring the orchestra's's first-ever performances of Orion, a work by the late Canadian composer Claude Vivier, paired with Anton Bruckner's final (and unfinished) Ninth Symphony.


A connection between these two works is a strong Catholic influence. Vivier was inspired by the Latin Requiem Mass. Bruckner was a devout Catholic who dedicated the last of his heaven-reaching symphonies simply "To the Dear Lord."

His replacement is Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra music director Manfred Honeck, who last appeared with the Philharmonic in December of 2013. The program will remain unchanged.

Recently, Mr. Dudamel conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in two performances at Avery Fisher Hall. These concerts were reviewed on Superconductor and you can read those reviews here and here.