Venezuela Pres­i­dent Nicolás Maduro has long been a thorn in Wash­ing­ton’s side. Ac­cu­sa­tions of nar­co-ter­ror­ism, rigged elec­tions, and hu­man rights abus­es have shaped the US nar­ra­tive.

If it’s one thing, the Bird­song Acad­e­my has set it­self some se­ri­ous­ly am­bi­tious goals. For in­stance, the pro­gramme for its Au­gust 15 Va­ca­tion Camp clos­ing con­cert, ref­er­ences ...