HAMPTON ROADS, VA [November 6, 2018] – Newly appointed Virginia Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Gonzalo Farias, a native of Chile, will present “Latin Flair,” a colorful, dynamic program of music with Spanish and Latin American origins.
The lush, whimsical sound of Enrique Soro’s Three Chilean Airs will begin the program before Concertmaster Vahn Armstrong takes on the romantic tangos of Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The VSO then dives into Manuel de Falla’s Three Cornered Hat Suite No. 1, full of character and drama, before closing the concert with Alberto Ginastera’s folkloric and expressive Concert Variations.
These concerts will mark the Williamsburg and Regent series debut for the VSO’s new Assistant Conductor Gonzalo Farias. Under the guidance of JoAnn Falletta, Mr. Farias’ ambition is to establish music-making as a way of rethinking our place in society by cultivating respect, trust, and cooperation among all people in our community.
Mr. Farias was born in Santiago de Chile, where he began his piano studies at age five. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the P.C. University of Chile, and then continued his graduate studies at the New England Conservatory as a full-scholarship student of Wha-Kyung Byun and Russell Sherman. He has won first prize at the Claudio Arrau International Piano Competition and prizes at the Maria Canals and Luis Sigall Piano Competitions. As a conductor, Mr. Farias attended the University of Illinois working with Donald Schleicher and the Peabody Conservatory with Marin Alsop.
Performances are at 8 p.m. on November 15 at Regent University in Virginia Beach and November 17 at Crosswalk Church in Williamsburg.
Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased by calling 757.892.6366, visiting www.virginiasymphony.org or visiting the Virginia Symphony Box Office at 150 Boush Street, Suite 201, Norfolk, VA 23510 from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. For group sales of 10 or more, call 757.213.1413.
The Regent Classics Series is sponsored by Regent University.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be – even as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2020.
At the heart of the VSO’s narrative is innovation. In 1991 the VSO made a very bold move in appointing the gifted young American conductor JoAnn Falletta as its music director. Since then, the orchestra has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest arts performing organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events to educate, enlighten and entertain more than 100,000 residents and visitors each year. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. As it approaches its Centennial year, the Orchestra and its legions of fans look forward with anticipation as the VSO conducts a worldwide search for its next music director.