How youth orchestras delivered the three most powerful performances of 2024

by

As a lifelong music enthusiast and concert-goer, I can confidently say that the year 2024 was a beacon of hope amidst the tumultuous global landscape. The extraordinary symphony performances I had the privilege to witness were nothing short of transcendent, offering glimpses into a world where unity and hope are not merely empty political rhetoric but tangible realities.

Among the more than a hundred symphony concerts I experienced this year, either in person or online, three stood out the most: Shostakovich’s Fifth, Schubert’s Ninth, and Sibelius’ Second Symphony. These aren’t just traditional pieces; for the young musicians who performed them, many under 25 years old, and some as young as 10, they were fresh challenges to be mastered.

Any youth or training ensemble has obvious allure. Whatever their level, the young musicians are never indifferent. They keep music alive. Music-making produces happiness, and they aren’t afraid to show it.

Instead of ordinary youth or training orchestras, these were ensembles with a grand purpose.

Entertainment & Arts

2024 was a remarkable year for classical music, with notable performances such as Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Phil’s rendition of ‘Das Rheingold,’ The Industry’s production of ‘Comet/Poppea,’ and Pacific Opera Project’s take on ‘Don Bucefalo.’

Towards the end of July, Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s YOLA National Festival program welcomed the National Children’s Symphony of Venezuela, a source of national pride for their renowned public music education system El Sistema. Dudamel had scheduled the orchestra, consisting of members aged 10 to 17, to kick off their U.S. tour at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Unlike their more formal engagement at Carnegie Hall, where every move by Dudamel – as the incoming music director for the New York Philharmonic – is closely watched, this Disney performance was a heartfelt celebration and, most significantly, a gathering of people.

The performance was complimentary. The crowd was predominantly made up of YOLA scholars and children hailing from almost every region, taking part in the “Citizens of the World: A Global Youth Gathering.” Accompanied by their parents, companions, and other attendees like ourselves.

Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony was remarkably performed. The musicians were so familiar with the composition, they scarcely took their eyes off Dudamel. With 180 of them tightly packed onto the stage platforms, it seemed as if they were one entity. In true Sistema style, they moved harmoniously, reveling in their unity.

Under Dudamel’s guidance, children ventured into a symphony where Shostakovich attempted to chart a symphonic path for enduring Joseph Stalin’s political persecution. The youngsters, far more mature than their years, conveyed a pain intertwined with beauty. They reveled in their skill and spiritual strength to proclaim victory over hardship.

What added to the awe-inspiring nature of these young individuals was that they hailed from both Caracas’ affluent gated communities and its impoverished slums, or favelas. These are children of government officials and their opposition. For an hour, Dudamel served as their leader, and these brave kids demonstrated what it feels like in a society guided by idealism.

Approximately three weeks past, Daniel Barenboim led his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a group consisting of young musicians from Israel and Arab nations, on a tour. I encountered them during this summer’s Salzburg Festival, where they performed Schubert’s final and most grandiose symphony, commonly referred to as “the Great.

The only performance I can compare to what Barenboim conveyed in this great work would be a recording of a live performance of Schubert’s symphony given by Wilhelm Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmonic shortly after the end of the World War II. Furtwängler seemed to be superhumanly trying to restore not just the culture but the humanity that Germany had disregarded in its horrendous war. The road back for the conductor was in revealing the ultimate goodness and power of art.

Entertainment & Arts

This year’s “Noon to Midnight” music extravaganza by the L.A. Philharmonic features Doug Aitken’s captivating “Lightscape,” an installation that doesn’t necessarily win over large audiences.

For decades, Barenboim’s musical inspiration has been deeply rooted in Furtwängler’s conducting style. Additionally, the late Palestinian-American intellectual Edward Said served as another source of motivation. Around two decades ago, they founded West-Eastern Divan as a trial. However, this year has presented unprecedented challenges for the organization, particularly amidst the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. To make matters worse, the musicians’ camaraderie might dissipate with just one phone call home. On top of all this, Barenboim himself has been battling a severe neurological illness that has drained his energy.

Despite all this, the greatness that emerged surpassed any other, with the musicians’ dedication to their mentor clearly evident in their performances. Every subtle movement from Barenboim sparked an extraordinary response. The concert, though powerful and raw, was also marked by finesse and uniqueness. Musicians of both Arab and Jewish descent listened attentively to each other, engaging in solos that seemed like a personal conversation – a quest for commonalities rather than differences.

After the final bow, there was a noticeable exhaustion yet contentment etched on their faces. They remained on stage for a while, sharing warm embraces and conversations that seemed endless. Their origins were hard to discern. They conducted themselves as if they had just triumphed in a contest, radiating a victor’s joy.

In Disney Hall, exactly two months later, Esa-Pekka Salonen led the Colburn Orchestra in a passionate yet articulate rendition of Sibelius’ Second Symphony. This piece was penned at the turn of the 20th century when Finland yearned for cultural autonomy from Russia. Though the Colburn Conservatory is as rigorous as institutions like the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Bard College and other top-tier music schools, all students at Colburn receive full scholarships and housing accommodations, ensuring a rich tapestry of national, cultural, and economic diversity.

From these talented musicians, Salonen drew out an infectious sense of urgency. They didn’t hesitate; they didn’t consider saving their strength for future performances. Instead, they embraced challenges head-on. Yet again, we witnessed the peak of youthful vigor, united in purpose and armed with the ability and determination to conquer every obstacle that came their way.

Entertainment & Arts

Refurbishing a once uninviting venue, the San Diego Symphony – one of the nation’s rapidly growing orchestras – has remarkably transformed its concert hall into a welcoming space.

2024, has it been a challenging year for all of us? Can we anticipate 2025 to offer some improvement or perhaps even more troubles? The world today is burdened with anxiety. Our predicaments seem to be of an existential nature. Headlines are dominated by death, devastation, and despair. Politicians worldwide have drained expressions like hope and unity of any substance.

Dudamel, Barenboim, and Salonen are not the only ones making a difference. Harmony and solidarity can be discovered in youth orchestras led by inspiring conductors across the globe. Furthermore, if these three remarkable symphony performances from 2024 serve as proof, we may manage to preserve a small piece of utopia for a while longer.

Read More

2024-12-06 02:47