ConcertPulse
Neojiba Orquestra Juvenil da Bahia / Guido Sant’Anna / Ricardo Castro
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
The Brazilian youth orchestra Neojiba, founded in 2007, is made up of highly talented musicians aged between 13 and 27. Following the example of Venezuela’s »El Sistema«, it is part of a grant programme that not only provides musical education but also promotes social integration. Neojiba was the first Brazilian youth orchestra ever to perform in Europe a few years ago, and now returns with a varied North and South American programme. By way of a prelude, the orchestra brings a work from its home country to the stage: Carlos Gomes is regarded as the most important Brazilian composer of the Romantic period. The orchestral prelude with the beautiful title »Alvorada« – Dawn – is from his opera »Lo schiavo« about the love between a slave girl and the son of a landowner. The programme continues from here – with a slight detour via Finland – to Mexico, Argentina and the USA. Aaron Copland was inspired by a dance hall in Mexico City to write his orchestral work »El salón México«, in which two drunken bassoons make an appearance. Alberto Ginastera, on the other hand, combined Argentinian folklore and modern harmony in the suite from his ballet »Estancia«. And Leonard Bernstein’s »Symphonic Dances« from the famous »West Side Story« are also set to bring plenty of momentum in the Grand Hall. Jean Sibelius’ famous violin concerto, featuring the up-and-coming 19-year-old Brazilian Guido Sant’Anna as the soloist, then takes the audience off to some entirely different (sound) worlds.