The art music of Latin America has over the last 50 years been a vibrant and fertile ground of musical imagination. In tonight’s concert we hope to give you a taste of the diverse, excited, sensual, original, and downright enjoyable music that has been written and influenced by Latin America. From the pioneers of art music in Latin America: Villa-Lobos in Brazil, Ginastera in Argentina, and Revueltas in Mexico, to the more contemporary works of composers from Argentina, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, we hope to emit some of the passion and feeling of such music.

The first half of this performance is designed as a ‘taster’ of Latin American music. Short works for small chamber combinations are woven in between Milhaud’s fascinating Saudades of Brasil performed by the whole ensemble.

In the second half, we open with a short piece by Venezuelan composer Adina Izarra, influenced by the sound of birdcalls. The ensemble then launches in to a musical exploration of Argentina, including a world premiere written as homage to Tango legend Astor Piazzolla; music from the Argentine avant-garde; evocation of indigenous Amazonian culture; and the multicultural nature of contemporary Argentine.

Alberto Ginastera – Duo for Flute and Oboe
Roberto Sierra – Tres Pensamientos
Silvestre Revueltas – Four Little Pieces
Heitor Villa-Lobos – Song of the Black Swan
Adina Izarra – Querrequerres
Tim Hansen – Killa Chinchilla
Gerardo Dirié – Lo Colore son Amore
Osvaldo Golijov – Lullaby and Doina

28 March 2008 @ CSIRO Discovery Centre