To Play and to Fight (2007)

The captivating story of the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra System an incredible network of hundreds of orchestras formed within most of Venezuelas towns and villages Once a modest program designed to expose rural children to the wonders of music the system has become one of the most important and beautiful music phenomena in modern history To Play and To Fight presents interviews and performances by many of the worlds most renowned musicians including the great tenor Placido Domingo Claudio Abbado Sir Simon Rattle Guiseppe Sinopoli and Eduardo Mata as they reflect on the impact of such a farreaching social project The documentary also presents the inspirational stories of world class musicians who have been trained by the Venezuelan system including The Berlin Philharmonics youngest player Edicson Ruiz and world class conductor Gustavo Dudamel