Festivals In Brazil

International choral festival comes to Washington

Classical Movements is based in Alexandria but works mainly overseas, arranging tours by American orchestras and choruses and running music festivals in Brazil, South Africa and central Europe. This weekend, company President Neeta Helms and her cohort will get to show their neighbors what they do for a living, when they bring the Serenade! choral festival to town.

“In the process of taking American groups around the world, we have had so many exchanges and collaborations, and we’ve had a great number of groups that wanted to come to the States,” Helms says by phone from Georgia (the one that gave the world Joseph Stalin, not Jimmy Carter). “So we thought it was time to put together this festival in our own country.

The festival is not just a showcase for the European classical tradition. “Choral music is becoming so international,” Helms says. “There was a time when it was all Handel, Bach, Mozart and such. But now there are so many fantastic composers. And in the course of their tours, so many American groups have started learning Maori, Chinese, South African and Brazilian songs.”

She adds, “We love the mix.”

The inaugural festival will present four concerts at four locations: Friday at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, with three choruses participating; Saturday at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in the District, four choirs; Sunday at Strathmore Music Center in North Bethesda, six choirs; and Monday at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church near American University, with all the choruses plus the Children’s Chorus of Washington. All performances are free.

The performances are “a bit of an investment from our side,” explains Helms. “We’ve been really, really busy, and have not had time to find sponsors.” She says the company is paying for travel and accommodations for some choirs but others are paying their own way.

The Strathmore concert is being presented by that venue, cutting Classical Movements’ costs. “That was great gift to us,” Helms says.

The company, which also arranges all the travel for the National Symphony and Baltimore Symphony orchestras, expects the local event to grew in the manner of its Ihlombe! South African Choral Festival, which went from 11 choruses the first year to 37 the second. Helms is in contact with sponsors who are interested in funding the fest in future years.

Born in Brazil: Brazilian Forró Festival comes to UK

Forró may not be as internationally recognised as samba, but it forms an important part of Brazil’s history. Started in the north east of Brazil, forró is a partner dance (where a couple dances together) and has similarities with salsa. It’s popular during Festa Junina , a traditional dance event held throughout Brazil every June to celebrate different saints. I challenge anyone to try a plate of rice and beans in Brazil and not like it. Or a brigadeiro. I’d be amazed if someone didn’t love Rio’s Ipanema beach and its funny, segmented demographic. But above all, I’d challenge anyone to find another place like it. The attitude and values of its people, the landscape, the culture – you won’t find it anywhere else. That’s certainly how I felt after a month-long trip to the south of Brazil to rediscover the country where I was born and grew up. This blog is my way of reconnecting with Brazil and taking you with me.

Festivals in Brazil, Festa Do Peão de Boiadeiro, Bahian Carnival, Modern Art Week, Festa Junina, Mixed Race Day, Parintins Folklore Festival

Music Festivals in Brazil, Rock Festivals in Brazil, Rock in Rio, Planet Pop Festival, Live Earth Concert, Rio de Janeiro, Hollywood Rock

Rock Festivals in Brazil, Rock in Rio, Live Earth Concert, Rio de Janeiro, Hollywood Rock

Film Festivals in Brazil, Recife Cinema Festival, Anima Mundi, Festival de Gramado, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Festival Do Rio

Brazil