July 12, 2022

Our second concert with Chautauqua’s Music School Festival Orchestra was last night. Our soloists were the wonderful Cuban musicians, pianist Aldo Lopez Gavilan and his brother violinist Ilmar Gavilan performing works of their own composition. To complement that, we made the whole evening a musical celebration of Latin America with music of Moncayo, Ginastera, and Ilmar and Aldo’s father Guido.
 
It was a hot night both meteorologically and musically. Words can’t explain what Aldo and Ilmar bring to their music making, but it is not something to be missed if given the opportunity. These works are a of a unique musical language, a mix of Latin, jazz and classical styles. The audience loved it.
 
It was interesting to notice the subtle stylistic differences of composers from Mexico, Argentina and Cuba. Certainly a common Latin style thread runs through each work, but at the same time, the styles were distinct. Aldo writes with a great deal of rhythmic complexity that is quite challenging for the performers, but the listener just feels it as the vibe of the music. On the printed page the complexity was a bit daunting, but to the listener it just flowed naturally.
 
As usual, the MSFO played with style, energy and polish…a great evening.
 
Next up, I go into rehearsals for Janacek’s opera “The Cunning Little Vixen.” I’m looking forward to getting started on that uniquely beautiful work.
 
NEXT UP:
 
Chautauqua Institution Music School Festival Orchestra and Voice Conservatory
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
Chautauqua, New York
August 8, 2022
 8:15 p.m.
 
JANACEK         The Cunning Little Vixen
 
#chautauquainstitution #janacek #aldolopezgavilan #ilmargavilan