As Opera Chic was enjoying her well-deserved Easter vacation in the Alps between Mahler, Titian, and dozens of different yummy foods (more of that later), the Los Angeles Philharmonic's music director, il maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen (who is still teh mang, by the way, even if he has a taste for some seriously ghastly suspenders), announced that he's stepping down at the end of the 2008-2009 season; he has his Philharmonia job, and wants to devote more time to composing.
He will be replaced by our dear Gustavo "Behold My Unruly Afro" Dudamel, who was signed to a five-year contract.
«Los Angeles was the first orchestra to give me the opportunity to make my U.S. debut at the very beginning of my career -- Dudamel told the Los Angeles Times -- The energy was very special from the start, and I love how open to new ideas the orchestra is».
Blahblahblah, etc.
Who cares: mad props to Dudi and his beloved wife, Eloisa for the new, plum job.
