Gustavo Dudamel first visited New York when he was 14.

He jumped on the giant keyboard at FAO Schwarz.

Three decades later, he came back.

Now he is the music director of the New York Philharmonic.

He is 45 now.

He started the job last week.

Before that, he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 17 seasons.

He is the 27th man to lead the New York orchestra.

Dudamel grew up in Venezuela's El Sistema music program.

In 1995, he played violin with the National Children's Symphony of Venezuela at the United Nations.

He remembered seeing the Twin Towers and the Statue of Liberty.

Then someone took him to the toy store.

He said it felt like paradise.

His first concert was at Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 10.

Lizzo, St. Vincent, Joaquina and Aaron Tveit were there.

Host Liev Schreiber said Dudamel is hard to describe.

The next day, Dudamel played at a 9/11 remembrance event.

He said music cannot undo what happened.

But he said it can give sorrow a voice.

Subscription concerts began this week.

They started with Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony.

He conducted this piece for his Philharmonic debut in 2007.

Oboist Sherry Sylar said his energy and passion spread to others.

Ticket money is up 8% from last year.

Seats sold for September are up 20%.

Dudamel has a five-year contract.

He will spend about 15 weeks with the orchestra each season.