Gustavo Dudamel Pushes Back After Chalamet Says ‘No One Cares’ About Opera
Actor Timothée Chalamet’s recent comments suggesting that opera and ballet no longer attract audiences drew a sharp response from conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who said the remarks reflected a misunderstanding of classical arts.
“Everybody has the right to say, but you have to do things with knowledge, with facts. I think we have to say to the young generation, the opposite,” Dudamel said. “It’s very funny. Cinema is a result of opera, of music, of all of these kind of things.”
Dudamel made the remarks Tuesday night while appearing at an event unveiling programming for his first season as music director of the New York Philharmonic. Speaking from the stage at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, he addressed an audience that included musicians, donors, orchestra board members, community leaders, composers and journalists. His comments prompted loud applause from the crowd.
The Venezuelan conductor, widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in classical music, is preparing to leave the Los Angeles Philharmonic this summer after 17 seasons as its music director to take up the same role with the New York orchestra.
At one point during his remarks, Dudamel jokingly pretended he did not recognize the actor.
“Which is the name of that?” he asked before cutting himself off as laughter spread through the audience.
“That way of thinking has to end. Music is reborn all the time and it brings us the values of empathy through the beauty of what it is. So this is the reality of music. This is the real dimension of music and we need that more for our young people.”
The exchange stems from a February conversation between Chalamet and actor Matthew McConaughey at a CNN and Variety town hall at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication. During the discussion, McConaughey asked whether shorter audience attention spans were affecting how studios structure theatrical films, including the push to start movies with more immediate action.
“I admire people, and I’ve done it myself, to go on a talk show and go: Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive. We got to keep this genre alive,’” Chalamet said.
“And another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like ‘Barbie,’ like ‘Oppenheimer,’ they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it. And I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it’s like where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive,’ even though no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership.”
The comments circulated widely online and prompted criticism from some arts organizations and classical music advocates.
Responding to the controversy, Dudamel suggested the issue reflected a broader need to introduce younger audiences to classical music.
“Sadly sometimes it’s a little bit of ignorance but, look, that is why we have to open more spaces for people to connect with classical music,” he said.
Matías Tarnopolsky, the New York Philharmonic’s chief executive, was seated beside Dudamel during the event and used the moment to extend an invitation to the actor.
“He can sit with me anytime,” Tarnopolsky said. “I’ll give him a free ticket and he’s invited to come and hear the New York Philharmonic.”
Chalamet, 30, recently received his third Academy Award nomination for his performance in “Marty Supreme.”
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.