Classical music breaks borders

On Sept. 13, the Ybor Chamber Music Department presented Carlos Audi, on violoncello, and Hamilton Tescarollo, on piano, in recital. The program was in three movements, the first from César Franck, the second from Samuel Barber and the last from Astor Piazzolla. In less than an hour, the Brazilian musicians delivered an emotional performance with enthusiasm.

 

According to Audi, Brazilians are experiencing a rebirth of classical music, mainly in big cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. “We think that the classical music scene is becoming more consistent in the latter years, in part because the government has begun funding to some orchestras in many cities, not only in big cities, but also in some smaller towns around the country,” he concluded.

While Brazil is experiencing a revitalization and enhancement in classical music, this reality is not reflected in countries like the U.S. where classical music has flourished in the past. The recent economic crisis has directly affected the classical music scene in the U.S. where most orchestras are nonprofit organizations supported by private corporations.

 

 “I see a lot of orchestras closing their doors, some of them have stopped playing. Here in Tampa, for example, we have a very good orchestra that is downsizing every year. They are having problems finding financial support” exemplified Audi.

 

Different realities produce different lives; even with the decrease of sponsorship directed to orchestras in the U.S., Tescarollo notes that it still is easier being a musician in the here than in Brazil. “Here in U.S. there are a lot of opportunities available for work, and there are a lot of musicians to fill these spaces,” said Tescarollo, “We have a lot of universities offering majors in Music here while in Brazil only a few universities do so. As a music professor I have an established position, so I don`t feel the difficulties of being a musician here in the United States. 

 

It is common knowledge that music can evoke an array of emotions, from sorrow to ecstatic joy. If people are able to experience these emotions by merely listening, what do musicians feel?

 

Being so far away from their home country, Tescarollo and Audi, feel that playing Brazilian music has the power to make them feel something singular; an entirely different emotion. Playing this music is also exciting for the musicians who miss their home more and more as time passes.
 

Although the musicians have been playing for more than 20 years each, they are more excited, concentrated, and anxious than ever. 
“

We do feel nervous, but that is good," said Tescarollo.  "I always say to my students that being nervous matches the desire to always do a better job."
 

“And it helps us to concentrate more fully," said Audi.  "We were trying to do our best in the recital and we were very concentrated over there on the stage.”