One week conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, the next recording the opening titles for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, then sharing a Super Bowl halftime stage with Beyoncé and Coldplay: this episode explores how Gustavo Dudamel, born in 1981 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, built that resume from the foundations of El Sistema, a state-funded social program that handed children violins instead of soccer balls. Mentored by founder José Antonio Abreu and steeped in the belief that classical music is a human right rather than a luxury, Dudamel was named music director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra at 18 and won the Gustav Mahler conducting competition in Germany at 23.

The conversation follows his rise through Europe as Simon Rattle's assistant, his La Scala debut and Gothenburg post, his 2005 Hollywood Bowl debut and takeover of the LA Phi ...