An Edinburgh night to remember as Dudamel returns to the Simón Bolívar

Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

Jorge Glem, Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

By David Smythe, 27 August 2023

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“a powerful Ländler was delivered with judicious rubato and grit, cellos and basses digging deep”

Reviewed at Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 26 August 2023

Desenne, Guasamacabra

Grau, Concerto for Cuatro and Orchestra "Odisea"

Mahler, Symphony no. 1 in D major "Titan"

Strauss II, Tritsch Tratsch Polka, Op.214

Bernstein, West Side Story: Mambo

Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor

Jorge Glem, Cuatro

Grooving with The Dude: the Bolívars make Bernstein and Falla dance

Mark Pullinger, 28th August

Between gigs at Wembley as Coldplay’s support act, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra brings its distinctive brand of infectious music-making to the Southbank.

****1

Simón Bolívar Orchestra and Dudamel celebrate El Sistema

Roy Westbrook, 16th January

An evening of audience roars begins as soon as Gustavo Dudamel first mounts the podium at the Barbican.

****1

Dudamel conquers Barcelona with Beethoven

Pep Gorgori, 13th March

In Barcelona, Gustavo Dudamel and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela continued their Beethoven cycle with performances of the Fifth and Sixth.

*****

Dudamel and the Bolívars: a “socks-on” kind of ensemble

Jacob Slattery, 7th October

Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and the musicians of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra are undoubtedly the most prominent ambassadors for Venezuelan orchestral music today, and they hit the stage on Friday for their second night at Carnegie Hall’s opening weekend.

***11

Cecilia Bartoli as Maria in Salzburg

Jonathan Sutherland, 13th May

A case of “seeing double” in Salzburg, as Cecilia Bartoli brings West Side Story to her Whitsun Festival.

***11

“Beer and beard”: Barenboim’s ruminative Brahms

Mark Pullinger, 17th January

An ambitious undertaking to perform both Brahms' piano concertos on the same programme, but not one that succeeded in this performance at the Royal Festival Hall.

**111

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David Smythe

David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.

An Edinburgh night to remember as Dudamel returns to the Simón Bolívar SO