Classical Hope in Venezuela: Yes, they did!

Dudamel, Abreu & the Musical Fruits of El Sistema!

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel , Esa Pekka Salonen’s talented successor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is a growing star. But to tell you the truth, I hardly realized just how much of a star he is, and didn’t know how he came to be surrounded by an inspired orchestra of young, extremely gifted Venezuela musicians. Before reading on, why not check out Dudamel conducting the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra. Click here and be amazed.

Young kids (under 20?), a high school orchestra, playing Shostakovich’ 10th Symphony like this? It’s simply beyond belief! Wonderful! After the Shostakovich performance Dudamel expressed the desire: ‘to have orchestras like this in all the countries of the world.’

So revolution and hope in Classical Music from Caracas, Venezuela. But why Venezuela? What on earth has happened here? I’m sure we’ve all heard of Dudamel’s sensational results with his Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. Just a couple of weeks ago we (MonteVerdi.tv that is) broadcast a stunning concert by this orchestra on Dutch TV. Amazing. But there are many great youth orchestras like this was my second thought. But here you hear an adolescent orchestra playing like little devils.

Thanks to a colleague (cheers Casper Vogel!) who sent me some news, I suddenly understand that there is a charismatic hero behind these Venezuelan success stories: José Antonio Abreu. Back in 1975 Abreu founded ‘El Sistema’: a youth orchestra system that has transformed the lives of thousands of kids in Venezuela. 

Thanks to the prestigious TED Prize Abreu has just won, we now have the opportunity to learn about the story of the ‘El Sistema’. In a fascinating interview with Abreu we find out the background of El Sistema, his own goals, and much more. Abreu believes that “music has to be recognized as an…agent of social development in the highest sense, because it transmits the highest values – solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion.” Truly, an inspiration. Click for his remarkable story/interview here.