la bolívar AT WEMBLEY

The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela made history at London’s Wembley Stadium alongside the band Coldplay. Their participation in the band's world tour reaffirms the international reach of El Sistema and the talent of young Venezuelan musicians.

London, United Kingdom – In an unprecedented fusion of classical and popular music, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, a part of El Sistema, concluded its ten-concert run as a special guest on Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tourat the legendary Wembley Stadium.

Led by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, this historic collaboration captivated hundreds of thousands of concertgoers and garnered significant international press attention. The performances once again solidified the global impact of the artistic and social project founded in Venezuela by Maestro José Antonio Abreu.

This marked the first time the orchestra shared the stage with Coldplay, one of the most influential bands on the planet. The invitation stemmed from the friendship between Gustavo Dudamel and Chris Martin, the band's vocalist, who has often expressed his special connection to the orchestra, which he calls his "favorite orchestra in the world."

The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra opened each show with a vibrant repertoire that spanned universal classics, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Vivaldi/Richter’s The Four Seasons (recomposed by Max Richter), and John Williams’ epic Star Wars score. They also performed energetic Latin American pieces like Ginastera’s Malambo and Bernstein’s unforgettable Mambo. Each performance was met with roaring ovations from the London audience

The most emotional moment of the night was when the orchestra joined Coldplay to perform two of the band's most iconic songs, "Viva la Vida" and “Feels like falling in love”, creating a unique fusion of symphonic power and the British band's pop-rock energy.

Through this collaboration, El Sistema and the Simón Bolívar Orchestra not only reaffirmed their artistic excellence but also highlighted Venezuela's role as a global leader in high-level music education.

"This collaboration with Coldplay was a celebration of music in all its forms and a testament to the talent of our young people," said Gustavo Dudamel. "For El Sistema, it's a source of great pride to bring the sound of Venezuela to stages that inspire the world."

Eduardo Méndez, El Sistema’s Executive Director, added: “This achievement belongs to every child and young person who is part of our network. Seeing the Simón Bolívar Orchestra on a stage like Wembley is a confirmation that the vision of our founder, Maestro José Antonio Abreu, is still alive and transforming lives through music.”