When I first saw the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela at their Carnegie Hall debut nine years ago, there was a sense among those in attendance that we were at "a historic evening…witness to an orchestra of remarkable capabilities, with a conductor who is a force to be reckoned with." At the time, the SBSOV was perhaps the world's greatest youth orchestra, the byproduct of Venezuela's famed El Sistema music education program, which provides free instruments and instruction to children from all walks of life.
A few things have changed in the past nine years. The SBSOV is now a full-time professional orchestra, with a recording contract and a touring schedule that brings them to all corners of the globe. Their music director, Gustavo Dudamel, regularly leads the world's greatest orchestras, most notably as music director of the L.A. Philharmonic. More darkly, a succession of corrupt regimes has given birth to a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, in which the SBSOV – which receives much of its funding from the government – is seen by some as complicit.
It was in this context that the SBSOV returned last week to open Carnegie Hall's 126th season with a gala concert on Thursday night that played to the orchestra's still-youthful exuberance. (They also performed on Friday and Saturday.) Dudamel, speaking from the stage to the black tie audience, expressed deep humility and gratitude for the invitation to perform on opening night, calling it "a historic moment for our system, for our country…a dream come true," while also offering a sense of the orchestra's ongoing mission. "Our life is music. In these turbulent times, we have music, art. We love music – that's it."
That love of music was readily apparent throughout the 90 minute program, with the players literally bouncing in their seats – a refreshing change from the more static postures of some older orchestras. They began with a tight, bracing reading of Ravel's La Valse that progressed from slow waltz to an explosion of fury and color. Things didn't let up as they moved directly into Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, which they played with fierce, feral energy – particularly the stunning "Dance of the Earth" at the end of Part 1, with lit the bass drums on fire. Dudamel, who conducted from memory, stood back and let the players take in the wild ovation that followed.
The concert ended with a long string of encores comprised of dances from around the world, all united by the fact that they were written in 2/4 time. Dudamel charmingly introduced each of them – everything from Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5 to Copland's "Hoe-Down" – though each time he had to ask the SBSOV's longtime concertmaster, Alejandro Carreño: "What are we playing now?"
They closed with a reprise of their signature rendition of Bernstein's "Mambo" from West Side Story, with all of the musicians standing up and dancing throughout the trumpet solo. (No tossing of instruments this time, though.) And, for good measure, they played their standard feel-good encore "Alma Llanera" from Pedro Elias Gutierrez's Aires de Venezuela, featuring the maracas player down front and center. Whether or not you had a ticket to the post-concert dinner at the Waldorf, this was an evening to remember. See you again soon, amigos.
More pics on the photo page.