Panoramic view of the musicians and the public attending an El Sistema concert in Caracas celebrating its 50th anniversary on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Photo: AVN.
This Sunday, February 23, over 4,000 musicians from the Caracas branches of the Simón Bolívar Youth and Children’s Orchestra and Choir System gave a massive concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this organization, locally and internationally known as El Sistema.
The show took place at the Plaza de la Juventud in Bellas Artes, Caracas. In statements offered to local media, the executive director of El Sistema, Eduardo Méndez, said that this concert emulates what has occurred in each of Venezuela’s cities, where there were massive concerts in Falcón, Mérida, Trujillo, Monagas, and others also celebrating the anniversary of this program. The aim was to offer high-quality music training to the children of the Venezuelan working class.
Méndez took the opportunity to thank President Nicolás Maduro for the initiative to create the University that bears the name of the founding teacher, which complements the work that has been done with the Simón Bolívar Conservatory and raises it to the university level. “It fills us with great happiness, pride, and commitment because it means that our teachers and trainers can also apply for university degrees. That was also one of the great dreams of Maestro Abreu.”
Venezuela’s El Sistema Music Program Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Andrea Bocelli
On Saturday at the Simón Bolívar Monumental Stadium in Caracas, another concert, this time for-profit, was offered by Andrea Bocelli, who performed for the second time in Venezuela, as reported by Últimas Noticias. Bocelli’s performance halted a row of high-level concerts and musical event cancellations motivated by supposed political instability after the two days of opposition violence promoted in the aftermath of the July 28 presidential election.
The tenor moved between the lyrical and the romantic on a stage full of euphoria and sobriety, with an audience that sang along with their voices raised and celebrated every moment offered by the renowned singer. He was accompanied by the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, the Simón Bolívar Choir, soprano María Aleida, Nella Rojas, César Augusto on the cuatro, and a guest violinist who thrilled the audience with her virtuosity.
The concert began intensely with two references to classical music: La donna e mobile by Giuseppe Verdi and Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. The audience immediately connected with what was happening on stage, even more so with the appearance of Cuban soprano María Aleida.
Later, the protagonist continued with his lyrical repertoire, with songs such as Mamma and O Surdato ‘Nnammurato, alternating with the guest violinist who surprised the audience with the performance of the local folk song El Pajarillo. The second part of the concert was the most celebrated, beginning with the romance and fury of two Spanish classics: El Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo and Granada by Agustín Lara, which brought the audience to ecstasy.
Momentos inolvidables, como el de este sábado en la noche, cuando Andrea Bocelli, en Venezuela 🇻🇪, se juntó con la nuestra, Nella Rojas, la margariteña. Otro gran evento en el estadio Monumental de Caracas Simón Bolívar. Qué viva nuestro país.#FelizDomingo #23Feb pic.twitter.com/X0dEuBAN1S
— Manuel Rodríguez (@mrodoficial) February 23, 2025
It was followed by Elvis Presley’s romantic side with Can’t help falling in love, before performing the celebrated Bésame mucho alongside Nella Rojas. Rojas, together with her fellow countryman César Augusto, performed Tonada de luna llena by Simón Díaz as a prelude to the long-awaited duet with Bocelli: Vivo por ella.
The farewell was in style with the long-awaited Com te partiró with María Aleida and the Simón Bolívar Choir, a sublime moment.
Photo gallery with credits to AVN and CiudadCCS:
(Alba Ciudad) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SF
