Gustavo Dudamel: I’m having big thoughts about society

The incoming New York Philharmonic conductor was invited to contribute a ‘Turning Points’ article to the local newspaper. Probably ghosted, and ever so slightly pretentious. He begins:

Lately I have been thinking about the relationship between the individual and society — particularly how to balance our personal needs with those of the larger community. This question is especially pressing in the current moment. As individuals, many of us feel alienated, isolated and helpless, struggling to find our place, shouting to be heard, running just to stand still. As a society, we are more divided than ever, siloed by social media and manipulated by misinformation, our democracies threatened by increasingly polarized political worldviews. Sometimes it is hard to imagine a world where we can live together in harmony. But my experience working with orchestras around the world gives me hope, and I truly believe that the arts can show us a better way forward.

In many ways, the orchestra is the perfect metaphor for the relationship between the individual and society…

Still with me?

Read on here.

There’s also a Spanish version.

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