CARACAS, Venezuela ā Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is at war with the country's beloved classical music maestro.Ā
GustavoĀ Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonicās musical director, was distraught after 17-year-old violinist Armando CaƱizalesĀ was shot dead during a protest against Maduro in Miami. Ā
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During a Friday night television appearance, Maduro said DudamelĀ had betrayed the socialist government.Ā
Maduro said Dudamel had betrayed El Sistema, a government-funded program that educated musicians nationwide. Violinist Wuilly ArteagaĀ believes Maduro is the one who betrayed Venezuela's musicians.Ā
ArteagaĀ has been persecuted for choosing to play his violin, while Maduro's riot police attack students who are willing to sacrifice it all for a better Venezuela.Ā
Arteaga's violin was damaged. He later suffered injuries while playing. He was arrested. Arteaga said he was tortured and witnessed a sexual assault while in custody. Now authorities have banned him from playing his violin in the streets of Venezuela.Ā
Dudamel, who lead the program that nurtured both CaƱizalesĀ and Arteaga, toured with El Sistema ensembles. He also supported Maduro during the protests against him in 2014. The death of CaƱizalesĀ during a protest in May changed his mind.Ā
Dudamel is scheduled to lead the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela in a U.S. tour next month.