The Venezuelan musicians continue achieving success. Christian Vásquez, a young conductor  educated at the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela, is in the Middle East to conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in a series of concerts. The Haifa Culture and the Frederic R. Mann halls will be the venues for these concerts that will be held from January 20 to January 25. The French pianist Héléne Grimaud will accompany the orchestra during these presentations.

Christian Vásquez was called to conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as guest music director after the Russian conductor, Yuri Temirkanov, announced he was unable to do it for reasons beyond its control.  "I am happy to have been given this opportunity; the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world’s top orchestras, and its music director is maestro Zubin Mehta, a leading figure in the world of music”, said Vásquez.

On January 20 and 21, at the Haifa Culture Hall, Christian Vásquez will conduct the orchestra in the performance of Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s Symphony N° 5 in E minor, Op. 64, and Robert Schumann’s Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 54, with Héléne Grimaud as soloist.

At the Frederic R. Mann Hall in Tel Aviv, on January 22, 23, 24, and 25, the concert program includes Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Concerto for piano and orchestra, Nº 2 in C minor, Op. 18, with Héléne Grimaud on the piano.

In 2005, Christian Vásquez was appointed as music director of the José Félix Ribas Youth Orchestra of Aragua. In April 2008 he made his debut as guest conductor of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. A month later, he conducted with great success the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, which will perform again under his baton this year in a series of concerts along with the renowned Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung. In October 2009 he led the Gavle Symphony Orchestra from Sweden. The concert program of the presentation included Antonin Dvorák’s Symphony Nº 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”.