Velcroheads.
That'll be the Simón Bolívar National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, in the words of Sir Simon Rattle. Or maybe he's just showing coiffuric solidarity with the orchestra's music director Gustavo Dudamel. The two maestros sport strikingly similar barnets from the Alan Davies school of hairdressing.
Enough of matters follicular. There's some seriously good music to be had when Dudamel leads the orchestra to the Royal Festival Hall in April. Even if you don't give a fugue about classical music, the joie de vivre exuded by this bunch is irresistible, even euphoric. Just watch what Dudamel gets out of this youth orchestra, especially in the second half:
The performance is even more moving when you consider that the youthful players are largely drawn from underprivileged backgrounds through El Sistema, a Venezualen social project that improves lives through musical education.
Although the main concerts sold out within hours, the musicians will also play a number of free or cut-price performances and open rehearsals at the RFH. The fun lasts 14-18 April.
