Legends of Brazil: A Musical Celebration for 200 Years of Friendship
The bicentennial celebration highlights two centuries of remarkable music from South America. It features early works by Brazilian composers and a world premiere commission by André Mehmari, a prominent figure in today’s Brazilian classical scene.
Presented by guest curator Flávio Chamis (composer, conductor, and educator), the concert offers a panoramic view of Brazilian concert music. The program includes a tempestuous classical overture by José Maurício Nunes, the modern and U.S. premiere of Francisco Mignone’s Quadros Amazônicos (an orchestral suite based on myths from the Amazon), Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Bachiana Brasileiras no. 4, a set of popular Brazilian songs performed by DC’s own Elin Melgarejo, and chamber music featuring Latin GRAMMY-nominated violist, Tatjana Mead Chamis.
Program
- Zequinha de Abreu arr. Jamberê Cerqueira: Tico-Tico no Fubá
- Padre José Maurício Nunes Garcia: Zemira
- André Mehmari: Sonata for Viola
- Francisco Mignone: Selection from Tres Valsas Brasileiras
- Francisco Mignone: Saci and Caapora from Quadros Amazônicos
- A selection of Brazilian popular songs
- Heitor Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasileiras no. 4
- André Mehmari: World premiere work for piano and orchestra
Artists
- Flávio Chamis, guest curator
- Tatjana Mead Chamis, viola
- André Mehmari, piano and composer
- Elin Melgarejo, vocalist
- Lucas Ashby, percussion
- PostClassical Ensemble conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez
Practical information
- Phone: (202) 467-4600
- Venue: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Terrace Theater, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
- Presented without intermission
Latest performances
- Beyond The Godfather: The Concert Music of Nino Rota
03/18/2025 - PostClassical Ensemble with James Austin Smith
02/16/2025 - Amazing Grace: Fire and Light
01/13/2025 - Legends of Brazil: A Musical Celebration for 200 Years of Friendship
11/19/2024—11/20/2024 - Pierrot Lunaire
11/02/2024—11/02/2024