Dudamel makes his peace with Caracas regime
OrchestrasThe incoming New York Philharmonic chief conductor was back in Venezuela this weekend, renewing contacts with El sistema and filming a production of Beethoven’s Fidelio.
He was given all the necessary facilities by the outcast regime and by a local sponsor, Bancamiga.
With the support of Bancamiga, the Venezuelans made the Sistema room in Quebrada Honda resound with their applause, to thank the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, the Simón Bolívar National Choir and the Manos Blancas Choir, Dudamel, Arvelo and the artistic producer Gabriela Camejo the possibility they had to witness a first-rate staging.
The executive president of Bancamiga, Ariel José Martínez, said he was moved because the institution accompanied Dudamel and Arvelo in a work that exalts integration, within the framework of its strategy of social commitment and dissemination of culture.
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It’s interesting that the Venezuelan “regime” is often accused of being Marxist, but in 2022 its government only spent 12% of the GDP while the USA’s government spent 38%. The actual conflict is due to Venezuela nationalizing its oil interests instead of sending the profits to US corporations, mostly in Texas. Venezuela’s non-aligned status is another source of vexation.
These policies have resulted in crippling sanctions that are effectively an embargo, and to two coup attempts by the CIA. This, of course, is business as usual regarding US interventionism in Latin America. These countries are, in part, forced into authoritarian regimes in order to fight US attempts to undermine their governments. The US then denounces these governments for being authoritarian. The whole circus becomes part of the propaganda we read everyday. The obsessive denunciations of Sistema are a part of this daily circus.
You should stick to music commentary instead of showing off your leftist admiration for a dictator who has eroded away any remnants of a functioning democracy that was not destroyed by Chavez. Millions have fled that country from the oppressive regime supported wholeheartedly by the Cuban secret service. Maybe you should talk to a Venezuelan expat. So called crippling sanctions are not the cause of the economic collapse of Venezuela. Statist corrupt policies of an authoritarian government aligned with the likes of Russia , China, and Iran are the reason the Country is an economic basket case.
Oh dear. The USA is spending more than Venezuela and so is entitled to its third world, er, status now. That and the loony left running the joint.
What can I say, Mr. Osbourne? Ten years ago I would have reacted with a long tome, in the hope that your reading it would lead to understanding. But, as I have learned with religious zealots and political ideologies alike, self-delusion is the key, untreatable requisite for believing the manifestly absurd. And you, Sir, have clearly elected to dwell among the absurd, like holocaust and election deniers… and Reggaeton lovers. All I can do now is ask your thumb-raisers to type the following into their browsers:
“What caused the collapse of Venezuela?”
Because the good thing about being right all these years – tragically – is that there is now plenty of evidence out there to prove it. Even the NY Times put their hands up! Even diehard US-basher Noam Chomsky admitted defeat – and I have a personal email exchange with him to prove that, too! I no longer need to make a single argument. Your worm-stocked hook will remain baited, Bill.
All I ask of your fellow Che-lovers is to look for that evidence; don’t worry, it will reveal itself with barely a gossamer brush of investigative unearthing. Do so in honor of the 7.5 million Venezuelans now in exile. In honor of the dead, the arbitrarily detained, the disappeared. Spoiler alert: You will find that Chavez and Maduro were perfectly well-equipped with the Castro-Cuban playbook to destroy Venezuela with zero help from their ideological enemy – and primary customer, of course – to the North. And that the oil industry was nationalized in 1976… Read on…
As for Dudamel, forget it. If people don’t understand by now, or care, they never will. Gergiev is out, Dudamel is in. That’s all there is to it. For the musicians who speak out against Putin, yours is the kingdom of heaven. For those who condemn Putin’s ally, Maduro? Hmm, “toxic”! The Venezuela-Russia-China-Iran alliance be damned. It seems only invading your neighbour is sufficiently horrendous to incur global scorn. Destroying your own country doesn’t count, especially if you love Castro and hate Uncle Sam, and have a pre-packaged orchestra that makes a fortune for agents and promoters among the world’s Prosecco Left. Such is life. I’m done trying to change it.
Yes, it’s american theatrics as usual. With repeal of Smith-Mundt act, govt, ‘news’, / propaganda on americans is fully legal.
Where is the information about the “caracas regime” you where referring to in the headline? You’re tabloid
Curious abt the US regime? FATCA, citizen-based triple taxation, 800+ us military bases around the globe, et.cet.c, massacres, torturing, bombings, “accidents”. The bias cannot be more clear. Is this a tabloid ? Or a pro- US empire bias?
Nicolás Maduro looooooves the glitter and “gentle-management” reputation of the Arts’ that Dudamel and el Sistema give him internationally. Nothing new under the sun, and Dudamel knows this therefore he gives Music and Youth a chance. Good for him! Blessings Gustavo;
Oh, good. The US can reduce government spending to 12% of GDP. Mr. Osborne says it’s OK.
Shame on Dudamel! Venezuela needs to fulfill the basic needs of the millions of people who stayed and those who fled the country, not a ‘world class conductor’ feeding their souls with Beethoven Fidelio’s films. I can bet a millions of dollars that Dudamel’s family and relatives don’t even live in Venezuela!