The announcement that Esa-Pekka Salonen will leave the LA Philharmonic in 2009, to be replaced by 26-year-old Venezuelan wunderkind Gustavo Dudamel, caught the vast majority of the orchestra by complete surprise. But after taking a few hours to process the new information, many musicians were quick to praise Dudamel’s energy and skill on the podium, and expressed relief at the unusual double announcement: “The future of the orchestra is secure. We’re not going to flail around with our hat in hand like every other orchestra, saying, ‘Will you please come?'”