St. Petersburg.- In 1994, during a seminar at a music school in Maracay (Venezuela), the kids of the National Children’s Orchestra of Venezuela that play in the “Simón Bolívar” Youth Orchestra today, read together Tchaikovsky’s Symphony nº 4 for the first time. On Tuesday, June 15, the musicians in the elite orchestra of the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela, were consecrated with their interpretation of this piece in one of the most legendary venues in the musical arts: the Mariinsky Theater, home of many premieres of capital works of universal music.

The Venezuelans broke any reservations that the Russian audience might have had. After the performance of the Russian composer’s representative piece, the request of a double repeat in an insisting rhythmic exercise. Then, after having the orchestra sit and play the repeat two times, they did not stop applauding until the very last musician left the stage.

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Europe Tour SBYOV Concert. Mariinsky Theater. St. Petersburg, Russia. 6-15-2010. Photo: FESNOJIV

The renowned Valery Gergiev, Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theater and conductor of that theater’s orchestra –and a constant guest to conduct the most famous orchestras in the world, said that “It was a good Tchaikovsky”. Minutes after the end, at Gustavo Dudamel’s dressing room, he pointed out his congratulations for the concert and his decision to go to Caracas to work with this orchestra. He also stated that the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra will be conducted by Gustavo Dudamel in the future.

Venezuela has proved to have many resources for music. We have known the existence of El Sistema for 15 years, but as we say in Russia, “it is better to see once than to hear one hundred times”, and we wanted to have them here. This orchestra is unique, it displays bright colors. The youth play passionately”, Then he said that he wants them in St. Petersburg again.

After the public’s response in St. Petersburg, a city with a long tradition in music, the success of the “Simón Bolívar” Youth Orchestra in Moscow is almost guaranteed.

This is a glorious, bright consecration for this orchestra. The fruit of art is reaped in maturity with depth and patience, and they have responded with depth, patience, tenacity, and an unfailing faith. They have kept their passion for music along all these years”, said maestro José Antonio Abreu, who received many requests to bring El Sistema to Russia.