El Sistema and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela are preparing to close their concert season with six performances that promise interpretative intensity, great symphonic repertoires, and a special connection with the Caracas audience at the Simón Bolívar Hall in Quebrada Honda. Under the direction of prominent national and international maestros, this cycle will bring together emblematic works by Richard Strauss, Brahms, Mahler, Bartók, Shostakovich, and Mozart, as well as a long-awaited symphonic tribute to film composer John Williams.

The 2025-2026 season of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra has been marked by artistic diversity, the presence of guest conductors, and the consolidation of the orchestra as a musical reference both inside and outside Venezuela.

The closing cycle will begin on Friday, June 5, at 5:00 p.m., under the baton of Spanish conductor Antonio Méndez, one of the international guests of this programming. The concert will be entirely dedicated to Richard Strauss and will include “Don Juan”, the Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 11, alongside soloist Michaelle Hernández, and will culminate with the monumental “An Alpine Symphony”, considered one of the most demanding orchestral works in the symphonic repertoire.

The schedule will continue on Saturday, June 13, at 5:00 p.m., with the participation of Chilean conductor Paolo Bortolameolli, recognized for his outstanding international career and his work with important Latin American and European orchestras. On this occasion, cellist Edgar Calderón will perform Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto, while the second part of the program will be dedicated to Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1.

On Saturday, June 27, it will be the turn of Venezuelan conductor Andrés González, who will lead a repertoire that combines the dramatic intensity of Béla Bartók's “The Miraculous Mandarin” with the symphonic power of Johannes Brahms' First Symphony.

Subsequently, on Saturday, July 4, the orchestra will present a contrasting program under the direction of Pablo Castellanos. The concert will feature the participation of soloists Annette León on the harp and Arón García on the flute, who will perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra. The day will close with Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4, one of the most luminous and complex works of the Austrian composer.

The programming will continue on Sunday, July 12, at 11:00 a.m., with a concert entirely dedicated to Johannes Brahms. Maestro Gonzalo Hidalgo will direct the Simón Bolívar Symphony alongside violinist Carlos Vegas as soloist in the Violin Concerto. In addition, the public will be able to enjoy the German composer's powerful Symphony No. 4.

The season finale will arrive with a different and highly attractive proposal for new audiences: the “Tribute to John Williams”, which will take place on Saturday, July 25 at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 26 at 11:00 a.m., under the direction of Andrés David Ascanio.

This special concert will take the audience through some of the most iconic contemporary film soundtracks composed by John Williams, including the music from Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, 'Jaws', Schindler's List, and several films from the Harry Potter saga. The repertoire will also include the famous “Superman March” and “Olympic Fanfare”.

With this programming, the Simón Bolívar Symphony reaffirms its commitment to artistic excellence, a wide range of repertoires, and the connection between symphonic tradition and new generations of spectators, in a season that will close at the Quebrada Honda venue and continues to consolidate the musical legacy of Maestro José Antonio Abreu.