It is not that often that I am able to link both countries I love (Canada and Chile) in one specific concert. Luck and good grace have smiled upon me by putting together on the same stage Inti Illimani, who along with few others are part of a rich tradition of Chilean and Latin American traditional music and Francesca Gagnon the outstanding chanteuse of the Cirque Du Soleil. It is also for a good cause; all proceeds go directly to the -earthquake damaged- city of Lota in the south of Chile. We are proud at Alternavox to support any and all efforts towards the reconstruction of Chile. Stay tuned for an depth interview with Inti Illimani very shortly! This concert if presented by the good folks at Latin American Canadian Art Projects (LACAP)
Below is the press release with details:
Canada’s Francesca Gagnon and Chile’s Inti-Illimani will present a selection of songs from their recently completed recording Meridiano with a program that mixes the popular songs of Cirque du Soleil with works from Inti-Illimani’s vast repertoire. The Canadian Guitar Quartet will be performing as special guests at this concert.
The voice of Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria, Francesca Gagnon is known the world over. Charming and seducing audiences and critics all over the world with her mesmerizing voice and her incredible talent as a performer, the Alegria album remained on the Billboard charts in the U.S. for 56 weeks and climbed to number 1 soundtrack on the Top World Music chart. To date, more than two million copies of Alegria have been sold worldwide.
For over four decades Inti-Illimani’s music has intoxicated audiences around the globe. In 2007, Inti-Illimani celebrated its 40th anniversary and the release of Pequeño Mundo, its forty-third album. Wedded in traditional Latin American roots and playing on more than 30 wind, string and percussion instruments, Inti-Illimani’s compositions are a treasure for the human spirit.
They have appeared on Amnesty International stages with Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Mercedes Sosa, Sting, and Wynton Marsalis; at benefit concerts for the Victor Jara Foundation (London, Dortmund, Glasgow) with Peter Gabriel, Paco Peña, John Williams, Emma Thompson, Karen Matheson, Maria Farantouri, Salsa Celtica, and the Rambert Dance Company and have shared the stage with Federico Fellini, Patricio Manns, Arja Saijonmaa, Holly Near, Mercedes Sosa, Youssou’n’Dour, and Pete Seeger. The group has been honored with the 1990 Lion of Venice, a Human Rights Award from UC Berkeley in 1997, and a nomination at the British Academy of Music (soundtrack category) for the 1982 BBC Film “The Flight of the Condor”.
The Canadian Guitar Quartet has often been featured on both English and French national CBC networks, on national broadcasts in Chile, Austria and on a “Classical Guitar Alive” webcast from the United States. In Canada, they have appeared at the National Art Gallery, the Palais Montcalm series, and the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. They have also performed at several music festivals in throughout the country as well as in the United States, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
Inti-Illimani and Francesca Gagnon – A Concert for Chile
with special guests: the Canadian Guitar Quartet and DALA.
Tuesday, March 23, 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 pm)
Queen Elizabeth Theatre (http://www.queenelizabeththeatre.ca)
(190 Princes‚ Boulevard, Exhibition Place, Toronto)
Tickets now on sale: http://tickets.ticketwindow.ca/
eventperformances.asp?evt=994&c=70&pg
phone: 1 877 700 3130 and at the box office the day of the
performance.
All proceeds go towards supporting the reconstruction efforts of Lota, through direct contact with Lota’s City Council and Mayor,
Mr. Jorge Venegas Troncoso.
For more information, visit: http://www.lota.cl/municipio
Here is a preview of what to look forward to:
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