Venezuela: an unprecedented concert

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and 30 years of the System of Juvenile and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela, CAF presents a Grand Concert tonight in which the prestigious director Gustavo Dudamel, and the maestro in vocal music Alberto Grau will guide the splendid performance of the Latin American Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Andean Juvenile Chorus and the National Symphonic Chorus of the Cantemos Choral Movement. The event consolidates the Social Action Program for Music, which CAF has been promoting since 2000. The concert includes the Andean and Latin American Juvenile Symphony Orchestras, the Andean Choral Voices (VAC), the Andean Traveling Conservatory (CAI) and the Andean Flute Workshop (TIAL).

CAF President & CEO Enrique García said that "culture as creative expression of peoples is part of our mission, which reaffirms our commitment to sustainable development and integration." The Social Action Program for Music expresses the human face of development and is a fundamental factor in social and regional integration.

Ana Mercedes Botero, CAF Cultural and Community Development Director, said that the main purpose of the program is "to promote civic culture by strengthening the intangible values that play a substantive role within the social fabric of all communities."

The performance of the Latin American Youth Orchestra - with 260 musicians aged 16 to 24 - from all the countries of South America, Central America and some Caribbean countries - is an unprecedented artistic event in the recent history of classical music in the region.

In 2004, maestro Claudio Abbado, leading world figure of contemporary music, took charge of the training and organization, at instrumental symphonic level, of the Latin American Youth Orchestra, which tonight will perform under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.

The program will be shared with the members of the Andean Juvenile Chorus created by the CAF, the National Symphonic Chorus of the Cantemos Choral Movement, Cantoría Juvenil del los Pequeños Cantores de Venezuela, Niños Cantores de los Pequeños Cantores de Venezuela, Niños Cantores de Los Teques, Niños Cantores de San Agustín, Schola Cantorum de Caracas, and guest choirs from the IUDEM Special Remedial Program, Choir of the José Ángel Lamas Music School, and the Choir of the Fine Arts Museum.

The program selected for the concert, which will start at 6:30pm in the Ríos Reyna Room of the Teresa Carreño Theater, will be consist of the scenic cantata of medieval poems Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (1895-1982), and the Triumphal March from the Opera Aída of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).