Autumn winds are blowing more than just elder leaves. They are bringing to NYC a tribute concert to one of the most - if not the most - important character of brazilian music. Marcelo Bratke is joining Camerata Brasil on November 4th to revisit the work of Brazil's most famous classical artist, Heitor Villa-Lobos. It will be a coda to his death's 50th anniversary. The repertoire also features some of Enersto Nazareth's work, one of Villa-Lobos's comtemporary who, alongside him, acted bold enough to dare combining Afro-Brazilian and European music.
The event takes place at 7:30 PM, at the Zankel Hall, located at the Carnegie Hall, a place that feels like home to brazilian performers. It is a must-see since Villa-Lobos work reshaped the world musical context.
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1887, Villa-Lobos was a maestro and songwriter who worked mainly with cello and classical guitar. He is well known for using an extremely brazilian-driven structure in his music, often referring to the country's folklore and to both its popular and native traditions. He's also regarded as one of the heads of Brazil's Modernism movement, due to his outstanding performance at the 1922 Modern Art Week, a high-point for brazilian culture, where he presented three different shows in three different days.
Another reason Villa-Lobos became who he (still) is was how he blended together two completely distinct musical traditions. By mixing European chambers music with Brazilian raw rythyms, Villa started a trend that to this day is quite defying for listeners and musicians to deal with. As the world never accepts brilliance at first, his work was criticized but, eventually, it was awarded the recognition it deserved. The Maestro even had a cameo at a Disney picture appearing side by side with Walt Disney himself. Now, that's the Lady Gaga of the 40's. Plus, his effigy was printed in the $500 bill of Brazil's currency at the time.
Nevertheless, cameos and cognizances aside, he might not be a face on a bill anymore. Currency has changed. And so has music.
Comments
Fabulous
so, help me understand. he made classical music popular or made popular music a classic? or both? is that it? anyways, I googled him and watched some people playing his music, it is very different and weird. but good weird. love it!
Now, I'm impressed. Never seen ( or heard) Brazil in a such a way.
Amazing!
well, there's something i need to say. the way you describe villa-lobos is unique and lovely. and you are right, he's one of the most important persons in the brazilian modernism movement. i believe that his influence is present in brazilian music of many ways and forever will be a reference.
great job, great article. keep doing!
nice
impressive
fancy stuff, I see.
I've been listening to a lot of classical music lately. I dug into villa-lobos's work a week before reading this and I was amazed. I'm glad I found this article on the tribute, I'll be there for sure.
keep up the work, pal. thanks
always a pleasure in so many ways
great article, man. really good.
what about some bossa nova? I'd like to know more about that.
Beautiful. That is simply wonderful!
are you being published anywhere?
you kick-ass, brother!
congrats
you kick-ass, brother!
congrats
I'll confess, I wasn't even aware Brazil had classical music. Better yet, quality classical music. It's not ignorance, really, it is just that things like that don't come out. Brazil is mostly known for samba and bossa nova and carnivals. I'm not that into classical. Glad to see how versatile Brazilian music is, though.
hooray for this amazing culture!
true master.
that's pure sweetness mixed with outstanding talent and creativity. I've always loved Villa-Lobos but I can barely find a single record around here. Can you point me to any stores or websites I could get some originals?
always wanted to be a maestro.
thanks for writing this.
all the best to you
please, write more often. I love your work
Good article with good taste! Congrats, Nilo!
I've seen you in some concerts. you're way hotter than you look in that picture. cute, talented, stylish.
write me.
seriously.
speechless
I dind't quite like it to be honest. I have this idea of brazilian music having more of a hot, dirty vibe,
like a few of the ones you wrote about before. keep that coming, will ya?
porra, cara, é nóis!
c'mon, write more. you're good.
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