Placido Domingo Sings Praises Of Inspirational Composer

 In July, Spanish tenor and renowned maestro Placido Domingo was awarded the first Washington, DC Ambassador to the Arts award from Guide for the Arts, honoring his efforts directing the Washington National Operas critically acclaimed performances, as well as celebrating his work supporting emerging artists through a variety of unique programs. He's taken his role one step further by performing for hundres of Venezuelans yesterday during a free concert and praising South American composer Jose Antonio Abreu.

While Domingo dazzled the crowd with his incredible operatic range, his attention turned to composer John Antonio Abreu. Domingo told the crowd Abreu "deserves a monument" for inspiring more than a million Venezuelan children to take up music since he founded "The System," (El Sistema) a network of more than 200 youth and children's orchestras.

An economist, musician and reformer, Abreu developed El Sistema in 1975 to help Venezuelan kids find their passion in classical music. El Sistema is a nationwide organization of 102 youth orchestras, 55 children's orchestras and 270 music centers. In the over thirty years since he created the program, it has supported over 250,000 young musicians. El Sistema's model has been replicated in several countries including Brazil and the U.K.

"Abreu has given the Venezuelan people one of the biggest gifts, and given the children the privilege to become musicians," Placido told the crowd. Using music education to help underprivilged children, many students have gone on to major international careers, including Gustavo Dudamel who will become the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 

Domingo is slated to perform again on Thursday with the local Teresa Carreno Youth Orchestra.

Check out this video produced for the TED conference. Abreu discusses his passion and vision for creating music programs for the youth and spreading it around the world.

Photo courtesy of TED.com.