CARACAS, Nov 21, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela on Saturday locked in the
Guinness record for the world's largest orchestra after thousands of local
musicians performed Tchaikovsky's "Slavonic March."

   The performers were brought together by Venezuela's publicly funded "El
Sistema" program, which was founded in 1975 and has since provided classical
music training to thousands of working-class children.

   Gustavo Dudamel, the music director of the Paris Opera and the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, is one of its most notable alumni.

   "I can confirm that this attempt has been successful, congratulations," an
official in charge of delivering the verdict announced on a screen during a
ceremony at the El Sistema headquarters. "You are officially amazing,"

   About 12,000 musicians, including both children and adults who are members
of the country's main orchestra, the Simon Bol-var, played for the record on
November 13.

   Performance of the piece was observed by around 260 auditors from the
accounting firm KPMG, charged with ensuring each musician complied with the
rules to set a new record, which include not sharing instruments and playing
for at least five minutes during the score.

   "This is a great achievement not just for El Sistema but for our country,"
said program director Eduardo Mendez.

   Russia had held the previous record, set in 2019 by more than 8,000
musicians.