Music of the Americas: Pascuala Ilabaca Live in New York and En Casa

Tuesday, May 30, 10 am

Alejandro Brittes is an Argentine accordionist, composer, and researcher of the music of his country's northeastern region, and was awarded the Best Musician award at the Festival de Cosquín in 1996 and won several other awards in Argentina and Brazil, where he currently lives. 

Alejandro Brittes Quartet—in which the accordionist is joined by André Ely, Carlos de Césaro, and Charlise Bandeira—will be on their first U.S. tour in Fall 2023 supported by the Iber Exchange program and the Lei de Incentivo a Cultura – Rouanet. The tour will take them to Library of Congress, Georgetown University, George Mason University, and to the New York area on October 4 and 5. 

From Estúdio Celito Borges in Porto Alegre, the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brittes and his Baroque Ensemble—which includes also André Ely, Carlos de Césaro, Érico Marques, Diego Schuck de Biasibetti, Fernando Cordella, Giovani dos Santos, Márcio Cecconello, and Ricardo Arenhaldt—sent us three pieces that explore the connections between chamamé (the traditional music of the region) and European baroque music. Today we share third of the videos he made for us, "El viento y las hojas," by Brittes, André Ely, and Luiz Fernando da Rocha.

Wednesday, May 31, 10 am

The music of Paraguayan guitarist and composer Pedro Martínez is informed by his research on popular music from Paraguay and Latin America. One of the leading musical figures of his generation, his work supports the linguistic and cultural traditions of his country, and his educational activity considers music an invaluable practice in the defense of cultural rights. 

Martínez sent us two songs. Today we share his own "Gracias," a Paraguayan polka. 

Thursday, June 1, 10 am

Gina D'Soto and Juan Diego Villalobos were on En Casa earlier this spring, and now D'Soto is back with more of her own compositions and traditional pieces, like this version of "Oroko." 

Friday, June 2, 7 pm

Pascuala Ilabaca & Fauna is one of the most important artists in Chile and Latin America. With seven studio albums published and over 15 international tours, she presents her most recent work, "La Curiosidad," live on our stage in New York. 

More information and tickets.

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

The Spring 2023 Music program is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Additional support comes from the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, The Amphion Foundation, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ ArtsForward program, made possible through support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and The Augustine Foundation.