Dudamel Conducts the Berlin Philharmonic

This past season the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its music director, Gustavo Dudamel, began presenting some of their concerts in movie theatres around the world. The concerts were generally good and the presentation often imaginative but the state of the art is to be found in Berlin not Los Angeles. The Berlin Philharmonic makes most of its concerts available via streaming and they are wonderful. The video quality and direction are just head and shoulders above the competition. So too is the audio quality. And the energy and virtuosity of the Berlin Philharmonic is palpable. The contrast with the LA Phil movie theatre events is even more pronounced when the same conductor is involved. I would much rather watch Dudamel in Berlin. In the scherzo movement from Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony Dudamel is in his element and the players respond with vibrant playing. 

Paul E. Robinson