Music of the Americas: From Brazil and Argentina

Tuesday, April 23, 10 am

Colombian clarinetist Michelle Camargo was on our stage last year, as part of Paquito D'Rivera's clarinet extravaganza, which closed our 2022-23 season. She was born in Bogotá and is currently studying at Ohio University. Together with percussionist Johanna Amaya, she founded the duo Solar in 2021 as a sound exploration laboratory focused on the dialogue of Latin American music with jazz ​​and sounds from different corners of the world. They have performed around the OU campus, around Athens, and were invited to the EDETARTS festival in Spain. 

Joined by bassist Eli Chambers, Solar sent us "Espinha de bacalhau," a classic Brazilian choro composed by Severino Araújo, who released it with his band in 1945. This composition stands out for its contagious energy, rich melodies, and lively rhythms. Choro is a traditional musical genre of popular instrumental music in which improvisation and instrumental virtuosity play an important part. 

Wednesday, April 24, 10 am

Born from a musical and personal connection, the Argentina Guitar Duo was founded by Federico Díaz and Juan Almada. They met at a festival around a decade ago, where they discovered a profound artistic connection, sparking to the idea of collaborating as a duo. Despite the challenges posed by their solo careers and geographical distance, they persevered, and their collaborative project finally materialized in 2022. Grounded in a strong philosophy of chamber music, the duo offers a fresh perspective on the repertoire for guitar duos. They will soon release new recordings and videos featuring works by the American composer Frederic Hand.

They sent us this version of the second of Leo Brouwer's Beatlerianas, a cycle of versions of famous songs by the legendary band. "She's Leagving Home" was recorded by the duo in Mar del Plata, on Argentina's coast. This video has been licensed by Leo Brouwer and Ediciones Espiral Eterna. 

Thursday, April 25, 10 am

John Mueller and Fabi Félix are back with a new video of "Maré rasa" (Canção de Partida), a song written with Gregory Haertel that speaks about departures and farewells—but happy ones, ready for new horizons.

Friday, April 26, 10 am

Costa Rican guitarist Julio Monge started playing music as a child, inspired by his parents, who were amateur musicians. He later studied guitar with Luis Alfredo Sánchez and started touring in Central America and the United States. He received his Bachelor's degree in guitar from the Universidad de Costa Rica, where he studied with Randall Dormond and Ramonet Rodríguez. Monge has been a member of the award-winning Cuarteto de Guitarras de Costa Rica. From San José, he sent us this version of Villa-Lobos' Prelude No 5, part of the prolific Brazilian composer's last collection of pieces for the guitar, composed in 1940. 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The Spring 2024 Music program is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, by the Howard Gilman Foundation, by the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, by the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, by The Amphion Foundation, by the Augustine Foundation, and by the Mex-Am Cultural Foundation.