Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Simon Bolivar is Smiling

I couldn't believe my ears! A youth orchestra from, of all places, Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, sounding so polished! The conductor looks like a reggae star than a classical musician. I didn't know that Venezuela has a very successful music program for young people.

In this trailer and in the next video, the twenty-something Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela interpret an extremely demanding piece, the Mahler Symphony no. 5.

Last year at the BBC Proms, they created quite a stir and wowed critics from both sides of the Atlantic. Dudamel is moving up the ladder and will take over the baton of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yes, they are amazing! If you haven't already seen it, check out the recent 60 Minutes segment on the youth music program in Venezuela (link below). http://venworld.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/venezuelan-music-program-el-sistema-on-60-minutes/

La Obra Maestra de Bellini

I Capuleti e i Montecchi (1830) Opera de Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)   Acabo de ver una ópera maravillosa a través de Youtube, una obra ma...