Chorus of 1200 at Huge Mahler Rehearsal in Caracas

By Mark Swed

 

CARACAS, VZ — When the Los Angeles Philharmonic arrived backstage at Caracas’ Teatro Teresa Carreno for its first rehearsal with chorus and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony Wednesday morning, the first reaction from many Angelenos was a gasp, a wow and a big smile. Then they whipped out their cameras.

 

A sea of tightly packed children and young singers rose to the roof. The official count was 1,207, but with that many, who’s counting? They were warming up, and it seemed as though the earth itself was singing solfège syllables. The sound was primal.

 

Although two professional choral groups in Caracas are participating, most of the singers are students (some as young as 7) from núcleo music schools in all 17 states of Venezuela. The Fundamusical Bolívar, the outgrowth of the El Sistema, which funds the núcleos, is also underwriting the expenses of transporting 650 children and teens to Caracas, as well as housing and chaperoning them in three hotels.

After the break, (Gustavo) Dudamel briefly walked out into the hall so he could hear the balances for himself (Lionel Bringuier took over the podium with engaging flair). Dudamel’s response to the ear-shattering, ecstatic end of the first part was exactly the same as that of everyone else: Wow!