Venezuela has a storied tradition in classical music.
Posted on 01/06/2026 8:55:59 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
The Venezuelan poster-boy conductor is due to become artistic and music director of the New York Philharmonic in eight months’ time. The position has the highest profile of any US orchestral position. Dudamel, who turns 45 this month, has held close links with successive governments in Caracas. Today, United States forces swooped to capture the corrupt Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, with whom Dudamel has had an on-off and latterly on again relationship.
Dudamel led European tours of the regime’s showcase El Sistema orchestra in 2025. He has maintained that his loyalty is to the Sistema organisation and not to its political masters. Opposition groups have claimed that Sistema tours were used as a front for Maduro smuggling operations.
A year ago Dudamel said: ‘Everything is over-politicised in the world right now. I believe we can only do the right thing with the tools we have and the tool that I have is music. I have believed in the values of the Sistema my whole life, and its children deserve support and respect because of the horrible situation that our country is living through.’
This crafted statement got him through 2025. It won’t be enough in 2026. The US has boots on the ground in Venezuela. There will be fallout from the miltary operation. Gustavo Dudamel will be held to account by media and political authorities for his long connection with the Chavez and Maduro kleptocracies. The New York Philharmonic cannot afford for him to get this wrong.
(Excerpt) Read more at slippedisc.com ...
Venezuela has a storied tradition in classical music.
“Amazing Grace” from the Notre Dame de Paris reopening
https://youtu.be/IQU1ZFJ8Dn4?si=P0kApWNCv9doU0FE
He probably was going along to get along with the corrupt administration.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a few of the world’s greatest conductors and Dudamel stands out among them. I saw him last at the NY Philharmonic conducting Phillip Glass, who was as in attendance and joined in giving him a standing ovation.
I like his stuff on yootube.
Phillip Glass is the Howard Fineman of classical music.
https://slippedisc.com/2026/01/was-sistema-orchestra-used-for-maduros-smuggling/
It’s one of several similar anecdotes involving the unscheduled diversions of chartered planes. No doubt, the propaganda relationship between the Maduro regime and western classical music will be forensically investigated in due course. Were the musicians themselves unwitting mules in the transportation of illicit gold or drugs? After all, VP Delcy Rodriguez and the now indicted son of Maduro, Nicolásito, both sit on the board of El Sistema. The latter played in the orchestras, and they both own illegal gold mines.
“Gustavo Dudamel will be held to account by media and political authorities for his long connection with the Chavez and Maduro kleptocracies. “
It’s NY. He will be lionized and given the keys to the city. Even when he conducts a clunker, the NYT will say it’s the best ever. It wouldn’t work that way in the real world. But it’s NY City.
Love Gustavo Dudamel. One of the world’s great conductors.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.