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 The last weekend in June the Ford Amphitheatre, in Hollywood, California, resonates with the sounds of Brazil. Two shows celebrate the richness and genius of Brazilian music.
In Brazil the Brazilian Guitar Quartet is called "The Dream Team." They are four of the most brilliant guitarists living in that country: Everton Gloeden and Luiz Carlos Mantovani (8-string guitars) and Tadeu do Amaral and Edson Lopes (6-string guitars).
Audiences across the U.S. have cheered them in their sold-out tours. The Los Angeles Times has called them "WORLD-CLASS ... precision, near-perfect balance and sensitive musicality ... swift-paced, quietly rollicking and irresistibly driving."
They display their mastery in music by Brazilian composers mixing classical and folk idioms: Albert Neopmuceno's Intermezzo based on the Afro-Brazilian dance rhythm called the lundu, Ronaldo Miranda's Variações Sérias (Serious Variations) using the popular ballad "Rasga o Coração" (Tear My Heart) as a theme, Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian dances by Camargo Guarnieri and Francisco Mignone, and the Quartet No. 5 of Heitor Villa-Lobos who launched the "nationalist" movement in Brazilian music and drew inspiration from the chorões, Rio de Janeiro's popular musicians.
The quartet also performs the Orchestral Suite No. 4 of J.S. Bach and the Rodeña from Isaac Albeniz' Iberia.
The Brazilian Guitar Quartet's concert happens at the Hollywood Ford Amphitheatre on Friday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m., inaugurating the Ford Theatre Foundation's "Vintage Evenings at the Ford" series. All ticketholders are invited to enjoy a complimentary glass of chardonnay, courtesy of Buena Vista Winery, in the Ford's entryway garden prior to the concert.
Beth
Authentic samba is the pulse of Brazilian Summer Festival 2005 as Beth Carvalho, the Godmother of Samba, brings dynamic rhythms from Rio de Janeiro in her Los Angeles debut on June 26.
Beth Carvalho, known as the Godmother and Queen of Samba, was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1946. Her career began in 1965, four decades ago; immediately she involved herself in samba, even though bossa nova was more prominent in the 60's.
In 1968 she took part in many music festivals winning 3rd prize with the song "Andança" of Edmundo Souto, Paulinho Tapajós and Danilo Caymmi (son of Dorival Caymmi) and gaining fame throughout Brazil.
Beth brought new instruments and sounds to samba in her concerts and albums. In her 40 year career, she has recorded 29 albums, won 6 Sharp Awards (the equivalent to Grammy Awards), 16 Golden Albums, 9 Platinum Albums, and sold over 10 million recordings.
In 1997 she became an "interplanetary singer", when her song "Coisinha do Pai," one of her major hits, was programmed by a Brazilian engineer at NASA, Jacqueline Lyra, to activate a robot on Mars.
Beth also won a Latin Grammy for best samba album with her 26th release, "Pagode de Mesa 2." Her recent DVD and CD, Beth Carvalho, the Godmother of Samba - Live / Invites, is a celebration of her career and features a chronology of highlights from all four decades. Well known guest artists represent the different streams and roots of the samba.
The Show
Brazilian Nites Productions presents its twelfth annual event at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, on Sunday, June 26 at 7 pm.
The 2005 edition features the most authentic and traditional Brazilian samba singer, Beth Carvalho accompanied by the band Quinteto em Branco e Preto. The performance marks the legendary artist's Los Angeles debut.
Opening the festival is Samba at Saticoy Children's Ensemble who brings different percussive beats with their rich, and varied rhythms.
The musician and dancers of Samba at Saticoy Children's Ensemble, ranging in age from 6 to 12, offer rich and varied rhythms played on an array of percussion instruments.
M.I.L.A. Samba School, a 20-piece percussion ensemble from Los Angeles, simulates the Rio de Janeiro street carnaval.
The OYÀ Brazil Samba Show dancers, choreographed by Daniela Brasil, add colorful and vibrant choreographies to the mix. The audience is welcome to join in and dance on stage.
The Lowdown
June 24 at 8:00 p.m. Brazilian Guitar Quartet inaugurates "Vintage Evenings at the Ford" Tickets: US$ 25, full-time students and children 12 & under US$ 12
June 26 at 7:00 p.m. Beth Carvalho headlines Brazilian Summer Festival 2005 - Tickets: US$ 45, US$ 35, children US$ 12
WHERE
Ford Amphitheatre 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East Hollywood, CA 90068 Just off the 101 (Hollywood) freeway across from Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal
PURCHASE TICKETS www.FordAmphitheatre.org - 323 461-3673
PICNICKING & CONCESSIONS Grounds open 2 hours before show time for picnicking. Ticketholders may bring their own picnics, purchase food and drink on site or order box dinners in advance from Crumble Catering, 310 652-3797. Food at the Ford and box dinner menus online at www.FordAmphitheatre.org
PARKING On-site, stacked parking costs US$5 per vehicle. Free satellite parking serviced by Free shuttles to the Ford is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The Ford shuttle stops in the "kiss and ride" area and cycles every 15-20 minutes.
These events are part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2005 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater, parking information, and box dinner menus, log on to www.FordAmphitheatre.org.
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