'El Sistema: Music to Change Life,' DVD (EuroArts/Universal)
The meteoric rise of Venezuelan national Gustavo Dudamel from humble violinist in a state-run orchestral program to boy wonder and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic has captured headlines in recent months. But the real genius behind his ascension is economist and amateur musician José Antonio Abreau, the septuagenarian founder of El Sistema (officially known as Fundación del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela or the National Network of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela).
Call it what you will—El Sistema is a powerhouse organization that serves as both a music academy and social services agency. It’s also become a model for a similar program in the United Kingdom and more recently, Los Angeles, where the youthful Dudamel is helping to reshape the city’s youth orchestras.
But Dudamel is but one of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan youths whose lives have been touched by Abreau’s humanitarian vision (bonus footage on this DVD traces the audition process).
This elegantly produced film by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier shows how Abreau and his colorful co-founder Frank Di Polo—who drives the streets of Caracas in a beat-up 1975 Buick purchased the year he and Abreau launched El Sistema—have taken impoverished street kids, some of whom have been involved in gang-related gun battles, and transformed them through the power of music by using the structure of the symphony orchestra to bring structure to the young musicians’ lives.
It’s a tribute to Abreau and Di Polo that Dudamel rose so far so fast, but the impact that this program is having on others can be seen in the bright smiles of the current crop of young El Sistema musicians.
Through their eyes, and the eyes of teachers, this inspirational film captures all the magic and mystery of music.
Available in high-definition Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround sound and PCM stereo.
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