Agency Report

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” programme, 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.”