April 7, 2026
Athens, GR 14 C
Expand search form
Blog

Gustavo Dudamel: ‘I understand why people are screaming’

Gustavo Dudamel: ‘I understand why people are screaming’

In a Telegraph interview with Nicholas Kenyon, Dudamel easily evades the issue of whether he should be touring an orchestra that acts as an ambassador for an illegal regime.

Here are some quotes:

  • Right now, with all the disinformation, with the super-politicised situation we are living through, I understand why people are screaming, I understand the cacophony. But I think we have to reflect and say that change is possible. I’m not just talking about the situation in my country: it is a very turbulent moment for humanity.
  • I’m a result of the programme. I’m not the creator, I’m not a boss. I started as a child because my father started in the system. So I have had music in me since before I was born. You know nothing is perfect. El Sistema is still alive after 50 years, after nine governments, because there was one man [José Abreu] who had a vision of organising this in the best way possible. You know there are imperfections. Anyone who comes here and says everything goes perfectly – it is not true. There are some things that work, and some that don’t work.
  • 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.

He’s getting to be quite good at this.

The post Gustavo Dudamel: ‘I understand why people are screaming’ appeared first on Slippedisc.

Previous Article

Budapest whizz grabs Lux Phil

Next Article

Free stream tonight: Carmen in her original provocative form

You might be interested in …

Sandrine Piau at Wigmore Hall

Sandrine Piau at Wigmore Hall

Wigmore Hall 125:Schubert, Clara Schumann, Wolf, Poulenc, Lili Boulanger, Ravel, Jeanne Bernard Sandrine Piau (soprano); David Kadouch (piano). Wigmore Ha, 1pm, 09.02.2026 Schubert Schwanengesang, D 957: Liebesbotschaft; Ständchen; Am Meer. Clara Schumann Ich hab’ in […]

Dutch replace Barenboim

Dutch replace Barenboim

The Concertgebouw’s Mahler festival has its first jump-in. Sakari Oramo has been recruited to conduct the Adagio from the 10th symphony, followed by Das Lied von der Erde, on May 18, the anniversary of Mahler’s […]