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Gustavo Dudamel on Why He Brought the LA Phil to Coachella, With LL Cool J and Other Guest Artists: ‘Wagner Wrote His Music for a Festival… Wagner Had His Own Coachella!’
The LA Phil's Gustavo Dudamel tells why it was his dream to have the symphony play Coachella. Guests included LL Cool J, Becky G, Zedd and Laufey.
Earlier in the week, Variety sat in on rehearsals for the Coachella performance at the Hollywood Bowl (with the promise of not spoiling LL Cool J’s or any other surprise guest appearance in advance) and spoke with Dudamel and his associates about why they wanted to add a show at a pop festival to the famed conductor’s list of accomplishments in leading the LA Phil. I told to the orchestra, ‘I’m so happy conducting, but I wish I could be in the middle of the crowd and enjoy the moment.’ … I wish I can tele-transport myself and be in the two places at the same time.” He didn’t actually leave his perch when the collaboration transpired Saturday, but the cameras did catch him shifting his attention turning around to beam at LL as he kept his baton aloft. The other performers included Maren Morris doing her original breakout hit, “My Church”; EDM favorite Zedd breaking with form and genre to play piano alongside a gospel choir on his more sedate “Clarity”; and vocal turns out front by two prominent Latin artists, Becky G and Argentine rap duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso.
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