The Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and Gustavo Dudamel performed to full houses in Sao Paulo on June, 19, 20 and 22. The extra performance (on June 19) was added when the two concerts scheduled to be given in Sao Paulo sold out in advance. The venue for the concerts was the Sala Sao Paulo, an old train station transformed into one of the most important concert halls of the Americas.

On June 20, the Venezuelan musicians held an open rehearsal at the Sala Sao Paulo for 1,100 kids from the Baccarelli Institute and the Sao Paulo's Guri Santa Marcelina Project, both dedicated to provide children and young people with music education.

“For us, who work with children and young people is an infinite pleasure to listen to a youth orchestra that is full of energy, have so many music skills, and is capable of infecting the audience with passion by playing a work like Mahler's Seventh that is so difficult to perform. Having the orchestra here is very good for Sao Paulo. El Sistema is an example to several music projects in Brazil. Here music as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum and El Sistema has a lot to do with it and the teaching of music to children and young people, which causes a transformation in their world, aesthetic and critical sense,  as well as in their ability to become better citizens," said Paulo Zuben, Sao Paulo's Guri Santa Marcelina Project.

"This is a long awaited performance. I'm sure this is the musical event of the year in Brazil,” said Gerald Perret, Superintendent of the Association for Culture and Arts, which made possible the concerts of the Venezuelan orchestra in Sao Paulo. "This is the staple export of Latin America. Venezuela must be proud of this outstanding achievement," said Pedro Herz, president of the above-mentioned institution.

For his part, the Venezuelan ambassador to Brazil pointed out: "These are very special days for the Venezuelan culture in Sao Paulo, where one of the most demanding audiences of the Americas is found."

Nelson Rubens Kunze, director of the Concert magazine, commented:

“It was an amazing concert. We are all thrilled. The energy of the orchestra is unimaginable. We titled the article about the orchestra 'Youthful energy' and we were not wrong. For a long time, people have been talking about this paradigmatic program featured in one of our articles.”

The Bicentenary tour continues in Rio de Janeiro. Then, the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra heads towards Argentina before performing in Uruguay. Next stop is Chile, followed by Bogota, and closes in Caracas.