When conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s international tours are disrupted by deadly protests across his native Venezuela, one of the world’s finest and most beloved musicians faces a daunting set of challenges — to his commitment to the mentor who changed his life, to friends and musicians he’s led since his teens, and to his belief in art’s transformative capacity.
WXXI Classical Presents...¡Viva Maestro! Saturday November 4th at 3 p.m. at The Little Theatre, followed by a discussion of El Sistema, music education, and the role that music and arts play in society, with ROCMusic Artistic and Executive Director Rachel Mills and conductor Rebecca Bryant Novak, hosted by WXXI Classical's Mona Seghatoleslami. Tickets on sale now.
Viva Maestro!, by acclaimed director Ted Braun, follows conductor Gustavo Dudamel through musical highs and personal challenges. "Viva Maestro is not simply a documentary about a conducting superstar. It's a story about El Sistema, the Venezuelan orchestras, and Gustavo's yearning to be a part of them again despite not being welcome in the country. His sadness is mixed with determination to continue using music to bring people together. It's about the desire to cause music to thrive, even in dark times." (review on IMDB)