RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – From Friday, May 30th, until Sunday, June 2nd, the “Orquestra Petrobras Sinfônica” (Petrobras Symphony Orchestra) will be playing a concert every evening, beginning at the Cidade das Artes on Friday where they will present a “Concerto de Inverno” (Winter Concert). Then on Saturday and Sunday they will be presenting music from the classic children’s book “Le Petit Prince” (The Little Prince) at the Teatro Clara Nunes in Gávea.
Friday will see the orchestra perform their first Winter Concert in partnership with JB FM at Barra’s prestigious Cidade das Artes. Staying true to their innovative nature, the orchestra will be teaming up with Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Vanessa da Mata.
She will be performing with the OPES chamber group, formed by ten musicians from the Petrobras Symphony Orchestra, and together they will interpret some of her greatest hits spanning six albums, including songs such as “Não me deixe só,” “Ainda bem”, “As palavras” and “A força que nunca seca.”
The Winter Concerts series will continue through May, June and July, featuring other noteworthy collaborations with popular Brazilian singers such as Paulinho Moska (performing on Wednesday, June 26th) and Daniel Boaventura (performing on Wednesday, July 24th).
The second treat of the weekend, courtesy of the Petrobras Symphony Orchestra, comes in the shape of The Little Prince, one of the most translated books of all time. Published in 1943 by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, it tells the story of the friendship between a misunderstood man and a little prince who lives on an asteroid in space.
This musical adaptation of the multi-layered, philosophical tale includes original music and narration by composer Tim Rescala, and the participation of soprano Michele Menezes. The orchestra will be conducted by Rodrigo Toffolo, artistic director and titular conductor of the “Orquestra Ouro Preto” (Ouro Preto Orchestra).
In this musical adaptation, the little prince leaves his planet to meet a king with a harpsichord, a businessman and his xylophone and a geographer with his flute, until he arrives at a blue planet – Earth.
In the Sahara desert, he begins his walk alongside an aviator and his English horn, finding a well and fresh water. The sound of the instrument leads the little prince to meet a fox. And in the end the orchestra leads the little prince back to his home.
Who: “Concertos de Inverno” and “Petrobras Sinfônica apresenta: O Pequeno Príncipe”
When: Friday, May 30th, 8:30 PM (Concertos de Inverno); Saturday, May 1st, 11 AM and Sunday, May 2nd, 4 PM (O Pequeno Príncipe)
Where: Cidade Das Artes, Avenida das Americas, 5300, Barra da Tijuca (Concertos de Inverno) and Teatro Clara Nunes, Shopping da Gávea, Gávea (O Pequeno Príncipe)
Entrance: R$50 (Concertos de Inverno); Free (O Pequeno Príncipe)