Watch Gustavo Dudamel prepare for ‘Symphony of a Thousand’

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Gustavo Dudamel is getting ready to scale yet another summit in his young career. On Saturday, he will conduct Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, the ‘Symphony of a Thousand,’ for the first time.

The concert, which takes place Saturday evening at the Shrine Auditorium, features the largest group of performers ever assembled by the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- 1,011 musicians and singers, from 18 different groups.

Final touches to the concert were still being made as late as Saturday morning, so the final tally could change slightly.

The L.A. Philharmonic is teaming up with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and 16 local choral groups, both professional and amateur, plus several vocal soloists.

We recently sat in on rehearsals at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Shrine Auditorium and found out how the chorus is coming together from Grant Gershon, music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Kathie Freeman, the chorus wrangler.

You can watch video above.

You can also read our full, behind-the-scenes report on putting together Saturday’s concert.

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-- David Ng