How Music Saved Venezuela's Kids - Documentary

Alan Yentob's documentary "How Music Saved Venezuela's Children" in the BBC's Imagine series focuses on the extraordinary Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, the exceptionally talented conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the classical music programme for poor and shantytown children known as "El Sistema" that has made such an impact on all their lives.

Video: Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra performing Mambo at the Albert Hall in 2007

Video: Gustavo Dudamel interviewed at the Proms in 2007

CD review: "Fiesta" Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela

To download tracks from the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra's latest album "Fiesta" click here:

Kotebel: Prog Rock from Beyond the Universe

Kotebel, the pet project of Venezuelan keyboard player and composer Carlos Plaza, will be coming to London on 23 August for a one-off show at The Peel, Norbiton's famous "Prog Rock" pub.

The band's neo-Baroque sound has been likened to The Enid, Camel and Gentle Giant, so expect to hear some celestial art rock with lots of jazzy noodling and operatic vocals.

Kotebel is often hailed as Spain's spaciest symphonic rock outfit, but Plaza, who trained in Venezuela as a classical pianist, also taps into his Venezuelan roots by incorporating traditional instruments such as tambores and cuatro.

Carlos lists his influences as everything from Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull to Bartok and Beethoven and describes the band's sound as "elaborate music that appeals to the mind and the spirit," leading to "a state of transcendence."

Kotebel began as an album project in Madrid in 1999. Since then it has grown into a full band with Carlos Acosta on flute and cuatro, Carolina Prieto on vocals, Cesar Garcia Forero on guitar, Jaime Pascual on bass and Carlos Franco on drums and percussion. Plaza's daughter Adriana, also an accomplished classical pianist, joins the band on second keyboard.

The band will be promoting their latest album "Omphalos", which one critic hailed as "a revelation for every genuine progressive rock fan". Now you know.

Gig Details:
Band: Kotebel
Venue: The Peel - 160 Cambridge Rd, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, KT1 3HH
Tel: 020 8546 3516
Nearest tube: Norbiton (then 131 bus)
Doors open: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: £10.
(Experience of travelling to other galaxies in your mind while twinkly space dust swirls around the room: Priceless.)

Omphalos

Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra - Albert Hall 2007

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra had the usually sedate audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London stomping their feet for more when they played the Proms on 19 August.

The programme included works by Shostakovich, Leonard Bernstein and some Latin American classics.

For the climactic finale the orchestra added a bright splash of colour by changing into their Venezuelan-flag jackets and gave London a true taste of the mambo.

Unbelievable. The press reaction after the concert was ecstatic. Wish I’d been there.... I had to settle for BBC4.

Video: Gustavo Dudamel interviewed at the Proms in 2007

CD review: "Fiesta" Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela

To download tracks from the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra's latest album "Fiesta" click here: