Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

Venue: Zellerbach Hall
Date: Thu November 29, 2012 8:00pm
City: Berkeley
Email: tickets@calperformances.org
Price Range: $30-$175
Tickets: 510.642.9988

Cal Performances

Composed of 200 young musicians, the orchestra is the flagship of the orchestral program of the State Foundation for the Venezuelan System of Youth and Child Orchestras, nicknamed El Sistema. The celebrated program involves some 250,000 members across the country in a system of preschool, children's, and youth orchestras (as well as over 30 professional adult symphonic ensembles). "For the children that we work with, music is practically the only way to a dignified social destiny," says José Antonio Abreu, the orchestra's founder. "Poverty means loneliness, sadness, anonymity. An orchestra means joy, motivation, teamwork, the aspiration to success."

"These young musicians and their charismatic conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, have won a big following on the international concert circuit," says London's Financial Times. "The story of an orchestra forged in deprived neighborhoods is almost enough to explain that in itself, but seeing them in the flesh brings social theory exultantly to life in a way no textbook could hope to achieve...the blistering energy of their playing hit London like a bolt from the blue."

Come celebrate the music of Latin America—and witness the thrilling future of classical music—with these amazing musicians.