el sonido

season 2025-2026

The 2025–2026 season of Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra has solidified its status as a testament to artistic excellence. In the year that El Sistema celebrates five decades of history, each performance has confirmed the enduring relevance and evolution of an orchestra that continues to set a benchmark both within and beyond the country's borders.

The season began in October with a tribute to Pierre Boulez, under the direction of Maestro Alfredo Rugeles, who underscored the orchestra's interpretive depth. Subsequently, Guy Braunstein's musical leadership brought virtuosity and character to the Simón Bolívar Hall in Quebrada Honda.

On November 29, Andrés David Ascanio led the Bolívar Orchestra in a program focused on the symphonic power of Jean Sibelius, reaffirming the sonic solidity that distinguishes the institution. In December, the energetic performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Christian Vásquez, closed the year with an enthusiastic audience reception.

2026 began with the same momentum. Under the direction of Gonzalo Hidalgo, a former member of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra tackled demanding repertoires such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Prague" and Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, performing to a sold-out audience. Later, the commitment to contemporary Venezuelan music took center stage with works by Giancarlo Castro D'Addona and Matías Azpurua, a composer who was also a member of the Symphony, culminating in a performance of the expressive intensity of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony.

More than a series of concerts, this season represents the continuation of a vision: excellence, constant renewal, and an artistic identity that, 50 years after its founding, continues to project the sound of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela with strength and conviction for the country.