Classical Music Stirs up Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Several concerts for all preferences and genres are part of the musical agenda that is stirring up Rio de Janeiro with the visit of great foreign musicians and the presence of prominent national artists. In spite of the seeming hardships, the city is reacting and ensuring that its venues are filled with an audience eager for good performances and charismatic musicians.

XIV RIO HARPFESTIVAL

The International Harp Festival proceeds with daily crowded concerts, establishing the city of Rio de Janeiro as the international capital of the Harp.

With performances by harpists from Japan, India, Argentina, and Germany in several programs with different rhythms and types of harps, as well as other instruments, in addition to the Uerê Chamber Orchestra, the program that started in April in São Paulo ended, only to be continued last May in Rio, when the “Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil” (CCBB), Forte de Copacabana, in addition to tourist attractions such as Ilha Fiscal, Corcovado, AquaRio, clubs, museums, cultural centers, and Palácio São Clemente and the Consulate of Portugal, saw their spaces teeming with musicians and their varied types of harps, for the complete awe of the captive audience, who wait a year to watch the idols of this divine instrument.

In June it was extended to cities such as Lisbon and Coimbra in Portugal, Madrid in Spain, Grasse and Porquerolles in France, Brugges in Belgium, and Milan in Italy. In October, new concerts are planned in Caribbean cities, French Guiana, and New Orleans. To have an idea of the size and significance of the festival, this year there were more than 20,000 people in attendance, making the RioHarpFestival, considered by the harpists themselves as the largest harp festival in the world.

www.rioharpfestival.com.br / www.musicanomuseu.com.br

August 17th – Memorial Getúlio Vargas
1 PM – Duo Portinari; Soledad Ya Ya, harp – Argentina; Peter Pas, guitar – Canada
4 PM – Friederike Müller, harp – Germany

August 18th – Memorial Getúlio Vargas Closing Concerts
1 PM – Duo Portinari; Soledad Ya Ya, harp – Argentina; Peter Pas, guitar – Canada
4 PM – Uerê Chamber Orchestra; Special guest appearance by Friederike Müller, harp – Germany

AVITAL
The charismatic Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital visits the city for the first time and will be at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro with the German orchestra L’Arte del Mondo and the conductor Werner Ehrhardt, in concert on August 19th, at 8 PM.

The ensemble will perform with epochal instruments the Concerto for mandolin (lute) in D major RV 93 by Vivaldi, works by Sammartini, Bach, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, and the beautiful Romanian Dances by Béla Bartók.

Avital was born in Be’er Sheva, in the south of Israel. He began his musical studies at the age of eight and was very early in the mandolin youth orchestra. He completed his training at the Jerusalem Music Academy and the Cesare Pollini Conservatory in Padua, Italy, where he studied with Ugo Orlandi, a great Italian mandolinist.

Information: +55 (21) 2332-9191
Location: Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Address: Praça Floriano, S/N – Cinelândia, Rio de Janeiro

ZUKERMAN
The Israeli violinist, born in Tel Aviv, Pinchas Zukerman is one of the most prestigious violinists of our time, and will once again be on stage at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, on August 22nd, at 8 PM, showcasing his five decades-long art, his expressive lyricism and his golden sonority.

A versatile musician, in addition to his instrument, he masters the guitar and is also a conductor. In the long-awaited concert, he will be soloist of the Orquestra Sinfônica de Barra Mansa, as well as the Canadian cellist Amanda Forsyth, also a soloist and as conductor Daniel Guedes, one of the most talented and virtuoso Brazilian violinists. In the program, there will be Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin in D Major Op.61, in addition to works by Dvorák.

Information: +55 (21) 2332-9191
Location: Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Address: Praça Floriano, S/N – Cinelândia

CECÍLIA MEIRELES ROOM
August 17th, at 8 PM
Brazilian Symphony Orchestra with Rio Cello

August 18th, at 11 AM
Youth Concert; Brazilian Symphony Orchestra with Rio Cello

August 20th, 8 PM
Paula da Matta, piano

August 21st, 8 PM
Recital commemorating the 60th anniversary of his career and the release of the CD by the great pianist João Carlos Assis Brasil

Information: +55 (21) 2332-9223 and +55 (21) 2332-9224
Location: Sala Cecília Meireles
Address: Largo da Lapa, 47 – Lapa, Rio de Janeiro

DUO
The Duo Barrenechea performs a recital to celebrate the 30th wedding anniversary of its members, flutist Sergio Barrenechea and pianist Lúcia Barrenechea, on August 18th, at 10:30 AM, at the Centro de Artes da UFF.

Information: +55 (21) 3674-7531
Location: Cine Art UFF
Address: Rua Miguel de Frias, 9 – Icaraí, Niterói

CULTURAL ACCESSIBILITY
The Arts Center of Fluminense Federal University (UFF) is holding the 1st Cultural Accessibility Seminar until August 18th, when it will take up the areas of the visual arts, the UFF Theater, the Cine Arte UFF in Icaraí and the Sala InterArtes in Ingá. Policies and Strategies for Accessibility, Cultural Rights, Diversity, Accessible Gastronomy, and Inclusive Education, are among the many topics under discussion. The event is very significant, and the enrollment for the round tables will be free of charge and can be done through the link.

MEDIEVAL FRANCE
Troubadours, songs, and dances from Medieval France will be heard in the gardens, on August 21st, at 5 PM, with the Conjunto de Música Antiga da UFF.

Information: +55 (21) 3674-7531
Location: Jardim da Reitoria (Rectory Garden)
Address: Rua Miguel de Frias, 9 – Icaraí, Niterói