| Javier Perianes | Piano |
| Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela | |
| Gustavo Dudamel | Conductor |
Directed by Dudamel since 1999, Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra has established a reputation for high-energy, ferociously skilled performances.
Bernstein’s rip-roaring Symphonic Dances from West Side Story is a particular favourite of the orchestra, and it is with this work that the evening comes to a crescendo.
When it premiered in 1957, the original Broadway production of West Side Story, with Bernstein’s powerful score at its heart, changed the course of musical theatre. He adapted this suite from the musical in 1960.
Bernstein’s overture to Candide opens with a fanfare, announcing the arrival of this world-renowned orchestra to our Royal Festival Hall stage.
Two works by Manuel de Falla complete the programme. The three movements of Nights in the Gardens of Spain each paint an impressionistic picture of a garden at night, full of atmosphere and nostalgia.
The Second Suite of The Three-Cornered Hat fizzes with Spanish folk influences and ends with an exuberant celebration.
Founded in 1975, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra creates new opportunities for musical excellence in Venezuela. Its 180 members – named UNESCO Artists for Peace – have been trained through El Sistema, a publicly funded music education programme.
Gustavo Dudamel is driven by the belief that music has the power to transform lives. Through his dynamic presence on the podium and his tireless advocacy for arts education, Dudamel has introduced classical music to new audiences around the globe.