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TOCHAR
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DUDAMEL ON:
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MAHLER's 5th SYMPHONY
[begins with an excerpt from
I - Trauermarsch]
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II
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III - Scherzo...
IV
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V - Rondo Finale...
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MUSIC
LUMINARIES PRAISE A NEW PARADIGM How is it possible
that hundreds of these children can come together as a choral
and orchestral ensemble and play some of the most difficult pieces
in the symphonic repertoire to world-class standards? |
| It
has been going on for over 30 years, but it is only recently that
the world-at-large has begun to ponder the words of wonderment uttered
over the years by some of classical music's luminaries who came
to Venezuela to make music with the children, to witness, and to
learn. Among those who first came were Zubin Mehta, the late
Luciano Pavarotti and Guiseppe Sinopoli (shown below) and Placido
Domingo (also shown below). Today's most fervent advocates of El sistema are Sir Simon Rattle, Music Director of the Berlin Philharmonic and his predecessor at the Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado who now directs the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Abbado is of course well known for his abiding interest in the development of young musicians in Europe, founding the European Union Youth Orchestra in 1978 and the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchestra in 1986. Both Rattle and Abbado have made acclaimed recordings of Mahler's Symphonies. Below are some quotable quotes by them and others whose lives have been profoundly touched by El sistema. |
|
SIR
SIMON RATTLE (Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra: Principal Conductor - 2002 to present; Orchestra
of the Age of Enlightenment, Principal Guest Conductor/Principal Artist
- 1992 to present; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: Principal
Conductor and Artistic Adviser - 1980 to 1989, Music Director - 1990
to 1998):
"In my opinion, there is no more important work that is
being done in music now than is being done in Venezuela."
"These days I say, I
have seen the future of music in Venezuela. I wish Mahler were
here to see this as well. And maybe he will be."
"It is so clear that the orchestra and the work that is being done
in music here is not only enriching lives, but saving lives."
"If anyone asked me
where is there something really important going on now for the future
of classical music, I would simply have to say - here in Venezuela.
It is an emotional force of such power that it may take some time to
assimilate what we're seeing and hearing."
"I think it is a matter that we have to remember - that music is
always about something - it is not just itself. I think part of
the reason that the audience gets these profound emotion from the musicians
is that clearly it is the most important thing in the world to all of
these kids and comes over loud and clear."
"Part of the thing here is that the kids don't expect things to be easy, and so they're willing to work for what they can get. But part of the thing also is that they are much more able to make things better because there is not much of the culture of criticism. There is the culture of encouragement. If something goes wrong, everybody laughs about it. OK, that didn't go right, but it will be better."
"To see an orchestra
of 800 children play not only wonderfully, but all phrasing in the same
way and all being able to communicate backwards and forwards is unusual
enough. We saw an orchestra where nobody's feet touched the ground,
literally. I heard the smallest orchestra in the world, conducted by
one of the largest conductors in the world playing Marche Slav, led
by an 8-year old who has no business having so much technique on a violin
as any 8-year old. And more than anything else, I saw in everybody's
faces, what I have always believed music to be about - which is pure
joy. Communication and joy!"
CLAUDIO ABBADO (Founder and Music
Director, Lucerne Festival Orchestra - 2003-present; Chief Conductor,
Berlin Philharmonic - 1989 to 2002; Music Director, Vienna State Opera
- 1986 to 1991; Principal Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra - 1979
to 1987; Principal Guest Conductor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra - 1982
to 1986; Music Director, Teatro alla Scala - 1968 to 1986):
"Almost no one knows about what is going on in Venezuela. But to
me, it is the example that every country should follow." "What
I have learned here is unbelievable. It is something moving.
I don't understand why no one else has thought of creating it this way."
"I believe that from a musical, social and humanitarian perspective,
from a cultural or political point of view, this is outstanding."
"I did not expect such an impressive artistic level. It's fantastic!"
PLACIDO DOMINGO (Tenor and Conductor, General Director: Los Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera): "I did not expect to walk into heaven and hear celestial voices. The truth is, I have never felt so moved, not only because of the emotion of the moment, but I must say, because of the quality."
"The Youth Orchestra Project has the potential to change the sociological profile of a country with characteristics like those of Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, or Mexico. I think the project is fabulous, fabulous in it potential to be applied to these countries." |
MARK CHURCHHILL (Dean, New England Conservatory of Music):
"We think of social programs as providing food, shelter, housing and medical care. And obviously these are very important for people who don't have these. But by feeding peoples' souls, they will find a way to feed themselves and to house themselves and to find the basic human necessities. And at the same time grow into people of significance and contribution. When you establish the inner life of somebody, which is done so effectively through these music programs, then the possibility for these lives to contribute, to enhance and uplift society is endless."
EDUARDO MATURET (Conductor
and composer):
"It is an expression of Venezuelan beauty in a pure way, and most importantly, in a noble way - without distinctions but with identity. A meaningful identity that gives the movement and the sound of the orchestra a fingerprint impossible to erase."
CLICK HERE to join a FanFaire-DGG GIVEAWAY of the CD "Mahler: Symphony No. 5" with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela.
Source
of quotes: The award-winning film by Alberto Alvero, Tocar
y Luchar (To Play and To Fight), available on DVD,
that tells the phenomenal story of EL
SISTEMA.
Credit: Images and video clip courtesy of and with
permission of Deutsche Grammophon.
SUPER
CONDUCTOR
SIMON BOLIVAR YOUTH ORCHESTRA
MAHLER 5th
ON 60 MINUTES
- Videos
EL SISTEMA
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