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Showing posts from November 2, 2008

In Review--The Venezuelan Solution to Youth Violence

Gustavo Dudamel & Simòn Bolìvar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela Beethoven 5 & 7 Deusche Grammophon The connection between Venezuelan youth and Beethoven might not seem an obvious one at first. Imagine, a youth orchestra comprised of children once at-risk, but now leaving an impression on international classical music lovers. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel (25 years old at the time of this recording), revealed his connection to the Great German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the liner notes. "As a six-year old, Gustavo Dudamel's favorite game was to line up his toy soldiers in orchestral formation to conduct them in an imaginary performance of Beethoven's 5th Symphony . By the time he was twelve, he was conducting his local youth orchestra. Two years later he had his own chamber orchestra. At 17, he became chief conductor of the Simòn Bolìvar Youth Orchestra…" According to the liner notes, Dudamel grew up in Barquisimeto, the capital of the state of Lara.