In his third release for Deutsche Grammophon,
Gustavo Dudamel leads
Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela in a program of Latin American music, plus
Leonard Bernstein's Latin-inspired "Mambo" from West Side Story. The collection includes several classic works, like Revueltas' Sensemayá and
Ginastera's dances from the ballet Estancia. Revueltas' darkly primal wildness and
Ginastera's sophisticated application of European harmonies to his earthy folk-like themes make their works the most sophisticated and musically substantial on the album. Evencio Castellanos' Santa Cruz de Pacairigua is clearly indebted to
Ginastera in its rhythmic and harmonic complexity, but it's an attractive piece that's full of surprises. The youthful orchestra plays with the panache and assurance of a professional ensemble, and
Dudamel leads them in performances of tremendous energy and exuberance.