Hollywood A-listers party with Gustavo Dudamel

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He’s as comfortable mingling with Tinseltown big-wigs as he is conducting a daunting new piece by John Adams.

Gustavo Dudamel, the L.A. Philharmonic’s new music director, partied down with the likes of Tom Hanks, Quincy Jones and Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer Thursday night in a gala celebration outside Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The 28-year-old Venezuelan conductor had just finished leading the orchestra in Adams’ ‘City Noir’ and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. For the rest of the evening, he rubbed elbows with celebrities, donors and other VIPs dressed in their best evening formal wear.

As part of the celebration, organizers served up Latin-themed cuisine and music. Other stars in attendance during the evening’s events included Angela Bassett, Andy Garcia and Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier.

The Times’ Image section was at the party and got reactions from Dudamel and some of his new friends. Read the full story here.

-- David Ng