Customer Reviews

Tocar y Luchar (To Play and To Fight)

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Something has been happening in Venezuela for the past thirty years, something that should sound a reveille around the world. This excellent film written and directed by Alberto Arvelo Mendoza with Carlos Díaz may at first seem like a propaganda film from Venezuela, but within moments of the opening aqueous credits the audience is poised for discovery.

TOCAR Y LUCHAR ('To Play and To Fight') is a documentary about the National Youth Orchestras of Venezuela, an organization now headed by Jose Antonio Abreu that focuses on providing instruments, musical training, and the experience of becoming part of a classical music orchestra to the children of Venezuela. The result is the truly superb Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela that has been touring the world under the leadership of principal conductor Gustavo Dudamel providing inspiration not only to young people who long for something meaningful in their lives, something like the majesty that classical music offers, but also bringing audiences in Berlin, Munich, Italy, and throughout the United States to their feet. This superb DVD explains how this happens, and the success of the film is the radiant faces of the thousands of young students who are becoming leading musicians of world-class quality.

Yes, there are live performances conducted by Dudamel as well as Claudio Abbado, Simon Rattle, and Giuseppe Sinopoli and there are moments of tribute from these conductors as well as from singers such as Placido Domingo and from commentators. But the real magic of the DVD lies in the expressions and the interviews with the members of the orchestra. This is a success story we should all heed: perhaps the salvation of our young people is here in this concept of providing opportunity and inspiration through classical music training. The film is not only a fulfilling visual and aural experience, it is also a beacon of hope whose light hopefully will be shared by all countries of the globe. Highly recommended not only for music educators but also for everyone who cares about the future of music and our children! Grady Harp, November 07

This film is not just about the most important development of classical music currently happening in the world, is about how to overcome the social problems of the third world.

You will see Plácido Domingo, Simón Rattle and Claudio Abbado brought to tears by the performances of this young orchestra. You will hear touching words from "Maestro" Abreu himself, and also from the new classical music superstar Gustavo Dudamel.

I will recommend it for all art lovers and specially for Venezuelan people that sometimes forget that there is still many good things happening in the Country.

"Music will sow in the child and the young a spirit of accomplishment, excellence, a cult for the beautifull, the fair, the just, the noble; and will transforms his personality"
José Antonio Abreu.

"La música siembra en el niño y en el joven un espíritu de superación, excelencia, un culto a lo bello, a lo bueno, a lo justo, a lo noble y transforma su personalidad".
José Antonio Abreu.

To understand plainly the status place of Gustavo Dudamel at front of one of the top Orchestras around the world like Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2009, we should date us back to the middle Fifties (1954, to be exact) when Caracas was witness about the historical debut of Wilhelm Furtwangler in March 1954. After that successful event, the idea of inaugurating a Latin American Festival was totally accepted, by then. I really would remark the only Symphonic Orchestra in those ages was the OSV (Orquesta Sinfonica de Venezuela, founded in 1930).

Caracas was an exceptional witness of soloists of the level of Andres Segovia, Agustin Barrios Mangore, Narciso Yepes, Nicanor Zabaleta, Gyorgy Sandor (who visited us for the first time in 1944), Wilhem Kempff (1953, 1964 and 1968) Paul Badura Skoda, Ginette Neveu, Janos Starker., William Kapell (1947 and 1949) , Pablo Casals, Ivry Gitlis, Pierre Fournier, Ruggiero Ricci, Aaron Rosand, Jean Pierre Rampal, Eugene Istomin, Eugene Ormandy, Marta Argerich, Claudio Arrau, Lazar Berman, Horacio Gutierrez and notable orchestras such the Gewandhaus, VPO, Cameratta of Salzburg,Pittsburgh among others.

So that expected project was simply extraordinary. Directors of the artistic height of Celibidache, Horenstein, Adrian Boult, Stanislav Wisloscki, Igor Stravinsky, Penderecki and Villalobos among other important figures of the baton. The main soloists in those ages just included two dozens of brilliant artists such as Alirio Diaz (guitarist) Judith Jaimes, Eva Maria Zuk (pianists) Maurice Hasson, Francisco del Castillo (violinists) .

On the other hand, the presence of Aldemaro Romero (1928-2007) a self didactical musician (creator of the New wave- a rhythm that blended Bossa Nova and jazz) emigrated to New York in the fifties to expand his knowledge; and that factor was determinant, because he founded in 1977 The Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra, and creating small nucleus of musical learning and being the same soloists of that famed the professors of this ambitious project. Even Astor Piazzolla was invited to give master classes

"To play and fight" was the final overcome, the sum of those infinitesimal but dedicated efforts, that day after day, since the early eighties, a countless number of people aimed to shape.

Jose Antonio Abreu was named as titular Director of a bunch of young and humble students who just had a visceral enthusiasm but ignited passion for doing the task today better than yesterday.

But it would be absolutely unfair to forget names of the level of Eric Landerer, Beatriz Klein, Monique Duphil, Florian Ebersberg, among others remarkable teachers who dedicated a good part of their lives to enhance this febrile enthusiasm.

So the Nineties meant a sort of inevitable effervescence through the whole country. Edith Peña (who studied with Susan Star) Gabriela Montero was part of that enormous outburst of energy and Dionysian passion.

But when Sandor Vegh came to Caracas in 1992 , he affirmed he had never seen such effluvium, good vibrations and enraptured devotion for the music in any other place of the world. This statement was the cherry of the cake, a formal acknowledge of a boiling expansion

What you will watch in this epic documental is the final stage of a patient number of silent hours and untiring and disinteresting efforts which at last were absolutely fruitful.

The creation of musical nucleus around every state of the country, was supported by government and private entities, so as exceptional witness of this brilliant result as Venezuelan citizen I may give a rotund testimony about this exceptional and glamorous artistic triumph.

Don't miss it!

I've just finished watching this DVD for the third time. Bought 6 copies. Every child in the world deserves a similar opportunity, every society the uplifting benefits. It's my goal to create something like this where I live, and this video is a wonderful way to convince others to join in the effort.

I've already written Explorart to tell them how deeply affected I've been by this remarkable, outstanding film, and I've little to add to the already wonderful reviews on these pages. I'm about to purchase my third copy from Amazon, the ONLY place the film is available. I live in Guanajuato,Mexico, in a city of classical musicians, who pass around the one edition of "Tocar y Luchar" that someone managed to buy on-line in Venezuela. Why, oh why, is this miraculous work so hard to find? Why, I ask myself - especially as I manage a string quintet - can't Mexico follow the example of Venezuela?
Music is the only art that creates something out of "nothing" - out of air - sound...the music of the spheres, if you like. Only through music can the hearts of every man, woman and child be touched without words, even, as the project reveals, for those who can't hear. I believe that "Tocar y Luchar" can open up those hearts in the same way.
On witnessing the spiritual vision of Antonio José Abreu, so beautifully understood and captured by Alberto Arvelo, I felt, for the first time in years, a stirring of real hope for this world. The founders of the project were equally stirred, and the entire project is finally, after 30 years, being talked about here. BUT, without this award-winning film, I believe it would have passed the country by. Not even MixUp Mexico can find it. And those poor souls who complained of its "technical flaws" on the IMDB have completely missed the point.
If I had the ability to help, I'd jump on the next plane to Caracas to help the cause!
If Claudio Abbado, the world's most sensitive and loving conductor, who understands the energy of young musicians, can be so deeply moved as to support the project whole-heartedly; if Sir Simon Rattle can be so articulate with his praise; if Placido Domingo, along with Abbado, can't stifle his tears, then why isn't this film in every town, every pueblo, every country? Director Arvelo has done the world a great service in making this documentary, and the ripple-effect can only continue if more places make it available to a hungry population of music lovers.
Indeed, Mahler would have been proud. Thank you, a million times over, Exploart and Amazon, for at least making this work available to a few.

I purchased this video to write a graduate philosophical research project about Dr. Abreu, entitled El Sistema: Social Program or Music School? As a music educator, the story is remarkable and encouraging for the state of orchestras and classical music throughout the world. However, Americans must evaluate it in real terms. This is first and foremost a social program, with a socialist slant, to give the poorest of Venezuela hope, skills and self-determination to reach beyond their current situation. The orchestra happens to be the vehicle, and the music a happy bi-product. For this to be recreated world-wide, government support in both financial and political terms would be a necessity.

The performance of Bernstein's "Mambo" is enough to make the DVD worth the purchase. The absolute joy in performing and pride in achievement is evident on the faces of the orchestra members. I wish I could have been there in person just to see Dudamel conduct. Remarkable performance!

I will use this in my classroom for inspiration, and days when I have no voice. There are many lessons my overindulged students can learn from this DVD.

When I left to leave for the cinema, I had little expectation. I was eager to see this little unknown film, I was intrigued by the world I was going to enter, yet that was all I felt when we drove the miles to our destination.
When people say there comes a time when they experience something that has changed them, that has deeply altered (or powerfully enhanced) their beliefs, I think you have to listen to them and try to understand rather than deny their zesty commotion. I am always a little unsure of lofty ideals, of beliefs that demand your attention and accuse others who do not wish to be involved, but what I viewed in the cinema yesterday was so far removed from that, was so celebratory of all kinds of different lives and experiences, that I feel I need to shout from the rooftops how wonderful this film is.
I personally have never been so moved by a film. I was surrounded by other people who left stunned and quiet, and then as we walked the pathway back into fresh air and natural light, had words flying out of their mouths as their bellies, heads and hearts burst forth with emotion. All of us wanted to share what we had seen, we were almost a "community that comes together with the fundamental objective of agreeing with itself."
Tocar Y Luchar (To Play and to Fight) is a film about the Venezuelan National Youth Orchestra, founded in the last 30 years, yet considered by many to be the most succesful youth orchestra system in the world today. Part of the reason this film moved me so much is due to the utter joy you felt when these children played their chosen instrument, whilst the orchestra, the conductor, the founders, encouraged a wonderful play ethic that made this vast orchestra have such a magical sense of union, of family. The optimism, the true passion you were given as you watched this film was enchanting yet is rarely seen, and I could not help but feel that part of the reason this orchestra is vastly successful in so many ways, is due to these children being fed this sanguinity, this confidence.
The kids in the orchestra do not have idyllic lives, far from it. They often live in very deprived areas of South America and have limited access to cultural and educational opportunties that many of us have come to take for granted. Due partly to this, due to the fact they are used to having to fight for what they believe in, they seem to throw themselves with gusto into their music and their passion. José Antonio Abreu, the main founder of the orchestra and considered to be the "Maestro", says that music is like an invisible language, a language that can reach out, without words, to other human beings and generate a message, generate values that can profoundly transform spirit. If my emotions, my feelings are to be listened to, I felt so very much alive and hopeful after watching a group of people who wanted to enable their country and their children to lead more satisfying and rewarding lives and were asbolutely fulfilling that desire and need. It was as if I was given a big cinematic spoonful of faith in what humankind can do, what we could do to encourage more warmth and relish to infiltrate ours and others lives.
It was beautiful, in every way possible, and I can simply try and urge you to seek it out if you have the chance.

I just listened to them a few weeks ago live and I run to order this dvd. It is great to be able to watch the project grow and find out its inception and what and how they have achieved... AMAZING !!!

I have seen the film before I ordered it. I wanted to see it again and show it to my friends. The second viewing was just as inspiring and moving, if not more. Why hasn't it been screened in the cinemas? My friends loved it too. It is heartening to see children in the villages and the cities enjoy playing classical music, alone or in the ubiquotus orchestras. It also shows that todlers, the blinds and even the deafs can be allured by the magic of music. The world will change if millions of us, through music making are commited to create beauty and harmony, The Venezuelan Youth Orchestra System with its 250 000 musicians is only a beginning.

It is heaven! I first watched this documentary on a Luftansa flight from Frankfurt to Denver on 9/20/09. I was moved to tears, excited, and knew immediately that it was a jewel. I knew too that I would use the marvelous words of Maestro Abreu as inspiration for a program for homeless young adults that I'm developing in my area. Our motto will be: "Let us be the orchestra!" Maestro Abreu's work and wisdom surely reaches even to areas outside of the arts to inspire and guide. Bravo!