Prensa Latina: 'Leo Brouwer to Preside Guitar Festival in Sao Paulo' Oct. 21 – Nov. 4

[Maestro Leo Brouwer]

Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) is an Afro-Cuban classical guitarist, composer and conductor who is featured at AfriClassical.com:

“Havana, Sep 29 (Prensa Latina) Cuban composer and conductor Leo Brouwer will travel to Brazil at the end of October to preside the 3rd Guitar Festival named after him. Cuban musicologist and director of the Leo Brouwer Office, Isabelle Hernàndez told Prensa Latina that Leo will conduct the Sao Paulo municipal orchestra in two symphonic concerts.” “The festival will be held from October 21st to November 4th...”

Prensa Latina says other participants include the Cuban duo Ondina, comprised of flautist Niurka Gonzales and pianist Maria del Henar Navarro, and the Dutch musician Alexandre Gismonti.

Prensa Latino continues:

“After participating in the festival, the Cuban musician will travel to Cordoba, Spain to attend the celebration of the first anniversary of the Leo Brouwer Young Philharmonic Orchestra, made up by students from southern Spain.”

Afro-Cuban Composer Leo Brouwer Honored in Sao Paulo, Brazil December 8-14, 2008

CubaHeadlines.com

December 14, 2008

“Sao Paulo Honors a renowned Cuban composer Leo Brouwer

More than 40 pieces by Leo Brouwer, most of them composed for guitar, allowed music lovers from this Brazilian city to gauge the artistic work of a renowned Cuban composer who has stamped his mark on world music. The Leo Brouwer Festival was inaugurated with a guitar recital at the Art Museum of Sao Paulo (MASP). Fabio Zanon, nowadays considered one of the best Brazilian guitarists, played some of the first pieces composed by the Cuban maestro for the instrument. Flutist Antonio Carlos Carrasqueira, violinist Marcelo Jaffé, cellist Robert Suetholtz, guitarist Alieksey Vianna and the Sao Paulo Ensemble joined him to play some chamber music.

“The series of recital continued December 8th, 9th , 10th and 12th at the concert hall of the University of Sao Paulo (USP). December 11th, the Chamber Orchestra (OCAM) of the higher education center, conducted by Leo himself, gave a concert west of the city. The same concert will close the festival on Sunday, December 14th at the museum. The latest presentations have raised the public’s expectations concerning the concert with the chamber orchestra, especially as Leo played his piece ‘Gismontiana’, which he dedicated to his friend and colleague Egberto Gismonti. The piece had its world premiere in Italy in 2004.” [Full Post] [Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]