Yerevan to witness Brazilian passion of O Guarani opera overture

PanARMENIAN.Net - On Dec 2, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra will perform O Guarani opera overture in Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall.

“It’s a totally different opera, a new world opera telling a beautiful story of a forbidden love affair between an Indian man and a Portuguese white girl in the 17th century Brazil,” the ambassador of Brazil to Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Though regretting the inability to stage the opera in full for lack of specific folk instruments, Ms. Marcela Maria Nicodemos expressed hope to present the opera in Yerevan in future. “Cultural ties with Armenia are important to us. Since the opening of the embassy we had several cultural activities organized, including the photo exhibition dedicated to 20th anniversary of Armenia independence and a film retrospective of Sergei Parajanov," the ambassador said, noting the opening of Brazilian Embassy in Armenia as a great help in promoting bilateral ties.

Dec 2 concert in Yerevan will be inaugurated by “O Guarany” opera overture by a famous Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Gomes, the first New World composer whose works were accepted by Europe. The opera O Guarani is based on Brazilian writer Jose de Alencar's romance novel O Guarani. The world premiere was at La Scala, Milan on March 19, 1870. The opera was a real success and maestro received the highest praise and recognition all over Europe. Later in 1870 Gomes returned to Brazil to organize the premiere of the opera in Rio de Janeiro. The success was amazing. O Guarani is considered to be the first opera which gained acclaim outside of Brazil.

“Cello Concert” by Jivan-Ter Tadevosyan and Symphony No 2 by Brahms will also be performed by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.