In the 30 years since its foundation, El Sistema has evolved into one of the most successful community arts programmes in the world. There are 250,000 children studying music under its auspices across Venezuela, from the most remote rural villages to the poorest barrios of Caracas. Its founder, the composer/statesman José Antonio Abreu (according to legend, he started with 11 children rehearsing in a garage), has said that it heralds a “new era in which great art is created by the majority, for the majority”.
Tag: 08.09.07
Fighting To Study Classical Music
“Under programmes run by the Foundation for the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela (Fesnojiv), Venezuela’s pioneering music education network commonly known as “El Sistema”, all children in Guarenas have access to a free education in classical music. Demand for the scheme from the local people seems insatiable; there are currently 700 students, and another 600 are on the waiting list.”
Santa Fe Opera Director To Retire
“The general director of the Santa Fe Opera plans to retire but will not do so until his successor is in place, he said Wednesday. Richard Gaddes, only the second director of the 51-year-old company, estimated the search would take 12 to 18 months. He will ‘most definitely’ remain with the company through the 2008 season, he said.”
Subversive Vinyl (Great Name For A Band)
Contrary to everything we’ve been told about the decline and fall of the brick-and-mortar recording industry, indie music stores are thriving in Chicago. What’s the secret? A return to vinyl. “It’s a quest for tangibility that is, in some ways, driving the vinyl craze. To some music lovers, CDs, at about 16 grams, feel less substantial than a 180-gram audiophile vinyl record… There’s something alternative, even subversive, about vinyl, especially when everybody is carrying around iPods.”
Biting The Hand That Feeds, Olympic Edition
“The Chinese artist behind Beijing’s spectacular new Olympic stadium has said he wants nothing to do with the propaganda for which it will be used during next year’s games. In an attack on the ‘disgusting’ political conditions in the one-party state, Ai Weiwei told the Guardian he would not attend the opening ceremony a year from now, or allow himself to be associated with either the government or the games.”
Gehry (Finally) Comes To NY
Frank Gehry’s glittering new office building on the Hudson River in Manhattan is the superstar architect’s first New York edifice, and the first in what will shortly be an impressive lineup of new buildings by high-profile architects in the same location. The Gehry tower “rises up from the old brick and rusting iron that is the meat-packing district of Chelsea like a shimmering white yacht, its sails puffed out in a gentle breeze. Viewed from the north, it really does appear to move, sailing southwards alongside the Hudson.”
Singing And Dancing Through The Minefield
“The Edinburgh Fringe is no stranger to controversy, but this year the most controversial shows all seem to be musicals.” Religion and politics seem to be the main targets of the satire, which can be decidedly hit or miss, and sometimes unnecessarily mean-spirited.
Spano In Scotland
Conductor Robert Spano has always focused his career at home in America, rather than heading to Europe for early validation as so many Americans choose to do. But Spano is heading up the opening performance of the Edinburgh International Festival this week, and some are seeing it as his belated introduction to the other side of the Atlantic.
Detroit Symphony Could Be Headed For A Strike
“After 20 years of labor peace, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is in a showdown that threatens to derail the opening of the 2007-08 season. Contract negotiations between the musicians union and management have broken down over a combination of issues, including salaries, pensions, seniority pay and work rules, according to the union. No further talks are scheduled.”
Better The Devil You Know…?
Some in the Toronto arts community might celebrate if Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda is shortly moved out of the job, as rumor has it she could be. But Val Ross says that, while Oda isn’t perfect, her replacement in the conservative Harper government could be far worse. “Although she has been described as a lacklustre non-entity, Oda has managed to quietly deliver more in real dollars to the Canada Council than the Liberals.”