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A MUSICAL TOUR Discovering Columbia Through Its Music By Jayne I. Hanlin Editor's Note: Jayne Hanlin's article on touring Puerto Rico's Pable Casals Musem appeared in the Spring and Summer 2011 PAN PIPES. M ention the country of Colombia to most people, and the first thing that comes to mind isn't classical music. Unfortunately, it is cocaine, drug cartels, and guerilla insurgencies. My friends wondered why I planned a trip there Although my guides had experienced hardship and trauma in their lives, they eagerly shared the beauty of their country, its history and culture. The diverse landscape of Colombia The interior of Colombia's refurbished Teatro Adolfo Mejía (formerly Teatro Heredia). includes mountains, coasts (Caribbean Sea and arrived from Caracas, Venezuela, the night The concert here had quite an impressive Pacific Ocean), plains, and part of the Amazon before. Then he proudly announced that his son lineup of young classical musicians from South Rainforest. was to be the violin soloist. America! In previous festivals, all young talent On a tour of the Walled City in Cartagena (a The concert (indoors this time) was at the was exclusively from Colombia. UNESCO World Heritage Site), I walked through refurbished 1911 Teatro Adolfo Mejía (formerly While the others are in their twenties, the a square where workmen were disassembling a Teatro Heredia). As I sat down in this lovely cellist is still a teenager. This "quartet" played an portable stage and loading it along with folding 729-seat concert hall, I saw the man I had encore. For this performance, Stephen Prutsman chairs onto a truck. It was only then that I just photographed. He was visiting with his arranged the song Con te partirò ("With you I discovered there had been an outdoor concert in son, the young violinist, and introduced me. will leave") with music and lyrics by Francesco this location the night before, and that the town Serendipitously, all of the family was seated in Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto and made famous was hosting its sixth international music festival. the row behind mine. by Andrea Bocelli. I asked my guide to find out about other concerts The two-hour program had four soloists: Hearing young Latin Americans playing so that might be held during my stay. pianist Gustavo Miranda from Chile, cellist beautifully in a country with a history of political Most of my time in the city was filled with Santiago Cañón from Colombia, soprano and emotional turmoil moved me to tears. scheduled activities, but Saturday was a free day. Amanda Neves from Brazil, and my new Carlos's family and I hugged one another. Words I could have taken a snorkeling tour, but what acquaintance, violinist Carlos Vegas from were unnecessary. intrigued me more was a morning Concierto Venezuela. Later that afternoon while exploring the city, Jóvenes Talentos (Concert of Young Talent) at 11. Carlos is the concertmaster of the Simón I noticed a young woman and a man walking My ticket cost 18,000 pesos, which is less than Bolívar Symphony. These musicians, between down the street. I was surprised to see that he ten dollars. the ages of 18 and 28, had traveled to California carried a cello case on his back. Being a cellist The concert was only five blocks from my and participated in the Mahler Project with the myself, I began a conversation with them. hotel, so I walked. On the way, I saw a man Los Angeles Philharmonic. Venezuelan Gustavo Carlo is from Medellin and had just played taking a snapshot of his wife, daughter, and Dudamel is the conductor of both orchestras. a Brahms sonata in a master class. There were grandson. Thinking perhaps he'd like to be in Their joint performance was the Mahler more than 500 young musicians at the festival the photograph also, I offered to take one by a Symphony No. 8 ("Symphony of a Thousand") taking classes with some of the over 150 clicking gesture. He thanked me in English, and on Feb. 4. I wish I had been able to accept musicians from around the world. Lorena, a as he handed me his camera, I noticed a ticket Humberto's invitation to Venezuela and attend festival staff member, kindly offered me a free like mine in his shirt pocket. I exclaimed, "Oh, it the repeated performance in Caracas on Feb. ticket for the evening concert, the final one, looks like we're going to the same concert!" 18. But, once back home, I did discover that I which she thought would be the highlight of The man introduced himself as Humberto could attend the live broadcast shown at a nearby and mentioned that he and his family had movie theater. TOUR continued on page 32 sai-national.org SPRING 2012 PAN PIPES 9

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