Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have announced "A Concert for Venezuela," a benefit concert to raise funds for communities affected by recent earthquakes in Venezuela. The event will take place on 23 August at the Hollywood Bowl and will also mark Dudamel's final performance as the LA Phil's Music & Artistic Director. It matters because it channels the profile of the Venezuelan-born conductor and a major orchestra into humanitarian relief following a significant natural disaster.

The concert responds to twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on 24 June, collapsing buildings in La Guaira and Caracas and leaving more than 3,000 dead and over 17,000 homeless, according to Reuters. Full programming and special guests are to be announced. Donations will go to Dudamel's Earthquake Recovery fund, run in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the CAF development bank, and the LA Phil is contributing a $50,000 charitable donation, with President and CEO Kim Noltemy stressing the institution's responsibility beyond the stage.