In honour of the 60th anniversary of the birth of Brazil’s esteemed Bossa Nova musical movement, Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre Society (VLACC) presents a dazzling concert showcasing Brazil’s multi-faceted musical culture in Aquarela do Brasil: An Explosive Celebration of Music and Dance, November 8 & 9, 2018, 8pm at Vancouver Playhouse. Created by internationally renowned percussionist Sal Ferreras, an ensemble of award-winning musicians and dancers will ignite the stage with some of Brazil’s most infectious musical styles, from Rio’s exuberant carnaval rhythms and Bahia’s iconic samba-reggae to the fiery steps of Recife’s frevo, soulful choro classics, and lyrical Bossa Nova melodies.
Brazilian music exploded into pop culture with Walt Disney’s festive animated short also named Aquarela do Brasil, which catapulted Ary Barroso’s 1939 musical hit of the same name into the international spotlight; numerous Hollywood hits starring the scene-stealing and intoxicating Carmen Miranda; the international release of the evocative single Chega de Saudade, launching Brazil’s Bossa Nova phenomenon; and the romantic tragedy Black Orpheus, a 1959 French film shot in a Brazilian favela (slum) of Rio de Janeiro, which became an instant worldwide sensation. The film was particularly lauded for its original soundtrack featuring Brazilian composers, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfa, as well as recording artist Joao Gilberto, solidifying Bossa Nova’s influence on the global jazz landscape.
Harkening back to a golden era of vivacious tempos and evocative melodies, Aquarela do Brasil will invigorate audiences with a program of thoughtfully curated musical compositions reflecting Brazil’s diverse musical heritage, including pulsing samba and frevo numbers, and soulful choro and Bossa Nova tunes. The evening’s ensemble will perform fan favourites from Brazilian music legends such as Ary Barroso, Mario Filho, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vancouver’s own Brazilian-Canadian guitarist Celso Machado, whose compositions are infused with the rich knowledge of the traditional music of Brazil.
VLACC’s 2018 annual signature cultural event, Aquarela do Brasil will delight enthusiastic audiences with a vast array of beloved musical styles, helping further educate and celebrate the richness of Latin American culture in Canada. A forum for artistic expression and visionary performance, the concert will unite an ensemble of internationally lauded musicians for an evening of joyous revelry, supporting numerous Latin American-Canadian artists and showcasing Brazil’s finest heart-pumping rhythms.
Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre Society presents Aquarela do Brasil: An Explosive Celebration of Music and Dance
Date: November 8 & 9, 2018 at 8 p.m.
Ticket Prices: From $20
Address: Vancouver Playhouse 600 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC
Tickets & Info: BrownPaperTickets.com
Website: vlacc.ca
Photo by David Cooper