El Sistema & Dudamania

Yesterday, my roommate and I celebrated our birthdays by going to the Cinemark movie theater at Settler's Ridge in Pennsylvania to see Gustavo Dudamel conduct Mahler: Symphony No. 8 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, eight vocalists, and a choir of more than 1100 voices live from Caracas, Venezuela.

Here's a shot of Maestro Dudamel conducting.

Prior to the performance, theater audiences were treated to behind-the-scenes footage from the LA Phil's Mahler Project, a partnership with the Simon Bolivar Orchestra to present all of Mahler's symphonies in three weeks, culminating in last night's historic concert in Caracas. Particularly featured were clips of students in Venezuela's music education program known as El Sistema. This program brings the joy of making music to children, regardless of socioeconomic situation, physical disabilities or other challenges. Maestro Dudamel himself is a student of El Sistema and has been instrumental in bringing the philosophy behind that program to Los Angeles.

It was a marvelous way to celebrate and an inspirational program all-around.

For more on the LA Phil's broadcast concerts, including the Gershwin concert with Herbie Hancock on March 18, visit http://www.laphil.com/laphillive/.