BRAZILIANPERCUSSIONIST CYRO BAPTISTA PERFORMS MUSIC FROM
ACCLAIMED VIRA LOUCOS PROJECT IN ZANKEL HALL ON OCTOBER 13
On Wednesday, October 13 at 9:00 p.m. Brazilianpercussionist Cyro Baptista presents Vira Loucos, aperformance featuring music written or inspired by one of the most significantcomposers in twentieth century Brazilian classical music—Heitor Villa-Lobos.Originally recorded more than thirteen years ago as Baptista’scritically-acclaimed solo debut album, Villa Lobos/Vira Loucos, theproject marked Baptista’s transition from a sought after side-man to respectedcomposer and bandleader. His distinctive take on Villa Lobos’s music led thecoining of the term vira loucos or turning crazy. Baptista’sZankel Hall performance marks only the second ever live performance of ViraLoucos, and features his original compositions alongside Villa Lobos’sworks. The event also commemorates Baptista’s upcoming 60th birthday, and theculmination of a 30-year career spanning musical genres from jazz and classicalto world music and rock. Accompanying Baptista in concert are vocalist VanessaFalabella, guitarist Romero Lubambo, drummer Tim Keiper,bassist Shanir Blumenkranz, hyper-accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman,and electronic guitar and banjo-player Kevin Breit. Special guest,saxophonist John Zorn will also perform.
Since arriving in the U.S. in 1980 from his native Brazil and beginning hiscareer on the streets of lower Manhattan, Cyro Baptista has emerged asone of the premier percussionists in the country—making a mark with his owndistinctive projects as well as his recordings and tours with some of music’smost popular performers. His mastery of Brazilian percussion and the manyinstruments he creates for himself has catapulted him into world renown. Withhis own ensemble, the percussion and dance group Beat the Donkey,Baptista gives free reign to his imagination by mixing his musical skills,natural humor, and theatrical ways with instruments from Brazil, the MiddleEast, Indonesia, Africa, and the U.S. Since 1997, Baptista has released ninealbums with various musical projects including Beat the Donkey, Banquetof the Spirits, Supergenerous, Robison, Lumbambo, and Baptistawith acclaimed classical flutist Paula Robison as well as with avant-gardeguitarist Derek Bailey.
Baptista has performed and recorded with artists ranging from Brian Eno, JamesTaylor, Sting, and Jay-Z to Michael Tilson Thomas, Daniel Barenboim, Yo-Yo Ma,and Trey Anastasio. He has also performed with a number of renowned Brazilianartists including Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Marisa Monte,and Nana Vasconcelos. Baptista can be heard on five Grammy-winning albumsincluding Yo-Yo Ma’s Obrigado Brazil, Cassandra Wilson's Blue Light'Til Dawn, The Chieftains' Santiago, Ivan Lins's A Love Affair,and Herbie Hancock’s highly-acclaimed album Gershwin's World. Adocumentary on his Beat the Donkey ensemble was recorded for the prestigiousWGBH-TV Boston program La Plaza and won three New England EMMY Awards in2002. The documentary continues to air on PBS stations nationwide.
Program Information
Wednesday, October 13 at 9:00 p.m.
Zankel Hall
CYRO BAPTISTA’S VIRA LOUCOS
Cyro Baptista, Percussion and Vocals
Romero Lubambo, Guitar
Kevin Breit, Electric Guitar and Banjo
Michael Ward-Bergeman, Hyper-accordion
Shanir Blumenkranz, Bass
Tim Keiper, Drums
Vanessa Falabella, Vocals
John Zorn, Saxophone
Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
| Ticket Information
Single tickets, priced at $34 and $44, will go on sale to the general public on August 30 at 8:00 a.m.. All tickets may be purchased at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or online by visiting carnegiehall.org.
For more information on discount ticket programs, including those for students, Notables members, and Bank of America customers, visit carnegiehall.org/discounts. |
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