[...] a new book about Venezuela's network of youth orchestras known as El Sistema, or The System, portrays it as a "model of tyranny" where brutal, marathon practice sessions mirror the apparently unlimited power and top-down style of its magnetic founder, Jose Antonio Abreu. Orchestrating Venezuela's Youth is the first in-depth study to question the institution whose motto of social action through music has brought together Venezuela's aging, conservative devotees of classical music and its socialist government, which has bankrolled El Sistema's expansion over the past 15 years. United Kingdom-based musicologist and arts educator Geoffrey Baker said he embarked on his research after attending a heart-stirring 2007 concert at the Proms of London by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra under the direction of El Sistema's best-known alum: Baker didn't try to verify the claims and declined a request by The Associated Press to provide access to his confidential sources — ammunition for El Sistema's backers who reject his charges. Rather, he wanted to provide a counterweight to the hype he believes has skewed public opinion and fueled a global franchising of El Sistema's teaching model to 60 countries. On Tuesday, Abreu appeared alongside President Nicolas Maduro on state TV celebrating the European tour and reviewing blueprints for the government-funded "Dudamel Hall" designed by L.A.-based architect Frank Gehry.