Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall

The Orquestra Sinfónia Simón Bolívar should need little by way of introduction. Founded in 1975 as part of Venezulea’s publically funded music education programme El Sistema, it has been lauded both for its social agenda and its musical quality. In the hands of Gustavo Dudamel, who became music director at the mere age of 18, they have blossomed into a fine adult ensemble indeed. Continuing their relationship with the Southbank Centre, the orchestra returns to the Royal Festival Hall for a trio of concerts in January 2016, capped by an appearance from a very special guest.
For their first appearance, on Thursday 14^th, they will devote their energies to two of Igor Stravinsky’s most celebrated early pieces. First up is Petruskha (1910-1; revised 1947), which matches the composer’s expressionist rhythms with pirouettes of orchestral colour. After an interval, the tone will take a more foreboding turn with The Rite of Spring (1914), with its stabbing horns and cubistic structure.
On Saturday 16^th, the orchestra will move ahead to one of the post-war era’s most titanic works, Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie (1946-8). From its fearsome introduction, with its broken atonal blasts, we move through passionate love songs, frenzied dances and unspeakably gentle themes to an ecstatic finale. Loosely based on the Tristan and Isolde story, this has come to be seen as one of the definite symphonies of the twentieth century.
Finally, on Sunday 17^th, Dudamel is joined by a presence even more charismatic than himself – Daniel Barenboim. The great musician and conductor, who has served as Dudamel’s mentor, will take to the keys to play Brahms’ two Piano Concertos. Opinion is divided on which of these two masterworks reigns supreme. The first (1858), with its sheer grandeur, burns with a youthful genius; the second (1978-81), all understated grace, is a piece of remarkable complexity. In the hands of Barenboim and Dudamel, they are both likely to be revelatory. If you book only one of these three concerts, choose this.