The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela
As you'll know if you've read one or two of my earlier posts, I love music. I've just experienced a truly wonderful 2 hours and 20 minutes of music live on the BBC from the Promenade Concerts as they're called in London: the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. It is made up of former street children and they're are hundreds of other such orchestras across Venezuela. The children have received instruments and training thanks to the public authorities there.
The programme was wonderful: Shostakovich's last 10th symphony and in the second half Latin American composers. Just great: joyous, celebratory, verve, so life-affirming. And the members of the orchestra were so beautiful, so good-looking. This was the joy, fullness, sweetness of youth, a magnificent evening.
During the interval, Verity Sharp interviewed the 26 year-old conductor Gustavo. He is currently the Principal at Gothenburg and is shortly to join the Los Angeles symphony. Asked what he thought was required of the conductor, he said humility and this showed in every moment of the concert. Simon Rattle said that this music in Venezuela is the most important thing happening in music today, anywhere. I have had two utterly joyous and particularly outsatnding musical experiences (amongst all the other shining jewels) this year and they have been Goran Bregovich and the Serbian gypsy orchestra at Beaux Arts in Brussels and tonight's performance by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra from Venezuela. Magic. I LOVE all these fantastic young people and those they work with to bring joy and light to the world.
At a time when global capitalism is wreaking havoc and the gangsters who run the US government are monsters who never miss an opportunity to attack Hugo Chavez, it's worth recalling that Chavez has won his elections through the popular vote. As we know, Bush was appointed by the US Supreme Court made up of judges supporting the Republican party when he first stood for the Presidency. And that the poor, neglected, dispossessed are receiving some support is very significant. So who says politics and music should be kept separate?
Vive Venezuela! Vive permanent revolution and freedom!
Right that's it: someone pass me a large glass of tequila or caipirinha or any other drink from Latin America. I'm toasting to beauty and a better world. Thanks.
The programme was wonderful: Shostakovich's last 10th symphony and in the second half Latin American composers. Just great: joyous, celebratory, verve, so life-affirming. And the members of the orchestra were so beautiful, so good-looking. This was the joy, fullness, sweetness of youth, a magnificent evening.
During the interval, Verity Sharp interviewed the 26 year-old conductor Gustavo. He is currently the Principal at Gothenburg and is shortly to join the Los Angeles symphony. Asked what he thought was required of the conductor, he said humility and this showed in every moment of the concert. Simon Rattle said that this music in Venezuela is the most important thing happening in music today, anywhere. I have had two utterly joyous and particularly outsatnding musical experiences (amongst all the other shining jewels) this year and they have been Goran Bregovich and the Serbian gypsy orchestra at Beaux Arts in Brussels and tonight's performance by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra from Venezuela. Magic. I LOVE all these fantastic young people and those they work with to bring joy and light to the world.
At a time when global capitalism is wreaking havoc and the gangsters who run the US government are monsters who never miss an opportunity to attack Hugo Chavez, it's worth recalling that Chavez has won his elections through the popular vote. As we know, Bush was appointed by the US Supreme Court made up of judges supporting the Republican party when he first stood for the Presidency. And that the poor, neglected, dispossessed are receiving some support is very significant. So who says politics and music should be kept separate?
Vive Venezuela! Vive permanent revolution and freedom!
Right that's it: someone pass me a large glass of tequila or caipirinha or any other drink from Latin America. I'm toasting to beauty and a better world. Thanks.