Symphony of 1,400? -- the Mahler Project goes to Caracas

February 17, 2012, 2:42 PM · During a rehearsal Wednesday in Caracas, Venezuela, even conductor Gustavo Dudamel was a little awed by the numbers onstage for Mahler 8 at the Teatro Teresa Carreno, said the LA Times. Though the eighth symphony by Gustav Mahler is known as the "Symphony of 1,000," this production is looking like the "Symphony of 1,400."

I, for one, will be watching the concert from a movie theatre in California, sharing popcorn with my son, Brian, 11, who sang in the Los Angeles incarnation of this event two weeks ago at the Shrine Auditorium.

The Caracas performance is being broadcast live in movie theaters Saturday, so if you are in the United States or Canada, you likely can go see it, too, just go to this page and enter your zip code to find a nearby theatre. You can buy the tickets right there online.

Performers include students (some as young as 7) from Venezuela's El Sistema núcleo music schools in all 17 states of Venezuela; two professional choirs from Caracas, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra. Looks like there will also be a little intro that explains "El Sistema" before the concert begins.

I'm not going to take notes or write a word about it. If you want to see it, go see it!

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Michael Pijoan

February 18, 2012 at 03:53 AM · Congratulations to Brian for being involved in this! It was fantastic!

Laurie Niles

February 19, 2012 at 03:31 AM · We just got back, and what a performance! I found it to be very moving and I hope that Gustavo and Co. have a big party tonight and sleep in very late tomorrow!

If you missed it and wish you hadn't, you will have another chance. The performance of Mahler 8 ("Symphony of a Gazillion") will be broadcast again in movie theaters all over the U.S. (and perhaps beyond?) on Feb. 29.

Here is a list of participating theatres all over the U.S.

Here is the page where you can enter your zip code and buy tickets

E. Smith

February 19, 2012 at 08:48 PM · Congratulations! And, by the way, Brian has wonderful dimples. I loved comparing this photo the photo of yourself at around his age in the blog above.

Laurie Niles

February 20, 2012 at 08:43 PM · Hah! I suppose there is a resemblance! But I didn't have the dimples, nor did Robert. Somehow the kids spontaneously both got them, from another mystery person on the family tree!

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Symphony of 1,400? -- the Mahler Project goes to Caracas

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