A musical celebration of Brazil

One could wish that all who attended were seated in the auditorium at the start of the concert — but they weren’t. Perhaps those who came in late (some, indeed after the intermission) were delayed in traffic — and perhaps they weren’t.

The concert began with three pieces by Edmundo Villani Cortes, one in a rather jolly dance rhythm, one in quieter mood, the third, fast and furious.

C?sar Guerra Peixe “Prayer” was, as one would expect, contemplative. There followed three pieces, “Passarim”, “Luiza” and “Samba of the Aircraft” ascribed on the programme to two composers, did they compose jointly or did one compose one, the other the last —including the intriguingly named “Samba of the Aircraft”?

The artists retired for a brief intermission before launching into short pieces by Brazil’s most famed composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos. The “Melody of the Black Swan” was a lyrical piece, followed by “The Song of the Poet of the XVIII Century” that had echoes of Mozart. “Brazilian Bach piece No 5 —Aria” brought to mind a Cantata by the great Johann Sebastian himself.

Three pieces by Chiquinha Gonzaga, “Appealing”, “White Moon” and Gaucho” completed the programme, the first wistful, the second dreamy and the third, as the title suggested, lively.

The applause that followed demanded the encore of that well-known bossa nova piece “Cocorvado” (Quiet Nights) by Antonio Carlos Jobin that got an even more rousing reception.

After the concert audience and artistes mixed and chatted while enjoying drinks and Brazilian tidbits before the speeches that are ‘de rigeur’ on any national day, the Charg? D’Affaires, Alirio de Oliveira Ramos pointing out that Brazil is one of the oldest diplomatic mission in this country, being established in 1965, and mentioning trade (these days it seems if the imported article one buys isn’t made in The People’s Republic of China it’s made in Brazil).

Both the Brazilian Charg? D’Affaires and Foreign Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan alluded to ties via the respective Carnivals in both countries and ended their speeches with toasts to continuing friendship between Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago.

Newsday thanks the Brazilian Embassy for bringing two first class musicians to play serious music by Brazilian composers to celebrate this National Day, it was a treat that is far too rare in Trinidad in the 21st Century.