Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra facts for kids
The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (which in Spanish is Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar de Venezuela) is a famous orchestra from Venezuela. It is named after Simón Bolívar, a national hero of Venezuela. This orchestra was once the top group in Venezuela's system of youth orchestras.
By 2011, many of its members were older than typical youth orchestra members. So, it became a regular orchestra. The Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra then took its place as the main national youth orchestra.
A smart economist named José Antonio Abreu started the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar on February 12, 1978. Since 1999, Gustavo Dudamel has been the orchestra's artistic director. The orchestra has played with many well-known conductors. These include Claudio Abbado and Simon Rattle.
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About the Orchestra and Its History
Venezuela's youth orchestras are part of a special program. This program is called the Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar (FMSB). People often call it El Sistema. It is a music program in Venezuela that helps people in society. The Guardian newspaper said the orchestra shows how music can bring people together. It also helps everyone feel included.
The orchestra has 180 members. They all work as part of El Sistema’s music learning program. These orchestra members have performed with many famous conductors. Some of these include Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, and Daniel Barenboim. Other great conductors are Krzysztof Penderecki, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Lorin Maazel.
The orchestra is based in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. In 2007, they moved their main home. They moved from the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex to a new place nearby. This new place is called the Center for Social Action Through Music. The name shows that El Sistema believes music can help society. Most of the students in this music program come from families with less money.
During his time as president, Hugo Chávez strongly supported El Sistema. He made it part of the government and gave it a lot of money. Because of this, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra became very important. It often played at national events. In 2013, El Sistema arranged for Gustavo Dudamel to conduct the orchestra. They played at the funeral of President Chávez. Many world leaders attended this event.
Gustavo Dudamel led the orchestra for concerts in 2014 at the Emirates Palace. Before these shows, Dudamel said something important. He explained that in Venezuela, they encourage what is good for each person. But even more, they focus on what is good for the whole group.
Challenges Faced by Musicians
Some musicians from El Sistema took part in the 2017 Venezuelan protests. These were protests against the government in 2017. Because of their involvement, some musicians faced difficulties.
On May 3, 2017, an 18-year-old violist from El Sistema was killed. His name was Armando Cañizales. He was shot while taking part in a protest in Caracas. The day after this sad event, conductor Gustavo Dudamel spoke out. He criticized the government's response to the protests. He wrote on social media: "I speak out against violence. Nothing can make bloodshed right. Enough of ignoring the cries of a people struggling with a difficult situation."
A violinist named Wuilly Arteaga also played his instrument during the protests that year. On May 24, a National Guardsman officer damaged his violin. Pictures of him crying over his broken violin were shared widely. Many people offered to give him a new violin. Wuilly faced challenges after this. He was held for a time. During this period, he was not allowed to write or receive letters. He was also isolated. Even so, he wrote a song called "Cárcel de libertad" (Freedom Prison). He wrote it with his friend Aarón, who was also held.
The orchestra played three concerts at the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival.
Music Recordings
The orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel have made four recordings for Deutsche Grammophon. One recording features music by Ludwig van Beethoven. Another has music by Gustav Mahler. There is also one with music by Tchaikovsky. Their fourth recording is a collection of Latin American music.
The orchestra also released other recordings earlier. In the early 1990s, they released several ballet pieces. These were on the Dorian Recordings label.
See also
In Spanish: Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar para niños
- List of youth orchestras
