The Caracas Academic Octet displays its virtuosity in the CAF Auditorium

An interesting recital was offered on December 2 by the members of the Caracas Academic Octet in the CAF Antonio José de Sucre Auditorium in Altamira, where they performed with great sensibility and virtuosity a repertoire of classical, light classical, rhythmic variations and important works of Latin American composers.

The musical evening was attended by CAF President & CEO Enrique García, senior directors and officers of the Corporation, together with specially invited personalities.

The concert began with the famous Overture of the Barber of Seville, masterwork of Gioacchino Rossini, followed by Quartet of Rigoletto and Brindis of La Traviata of Giuseppe Verdi; Two arias from the Opera Don Giovanni and Two arias from the Wedding of Figaro of Mozart; ending with Slave Dance No. 8 of Antonin Dvorak and Hungarian Dance No. 6 of Johannes Brahms.

In the second part of the recital, devoted to Latin American music, the Octet opened with an arrangement the group by Costa Rican composer Vinicio Meza, entitled Three Occurrences, in which they interpreted the rhythms of pasillo-bolero and salsa.

The beautiful melody Besos en mis sueños of Augusto Brandt, Venezuela author who was musical director of Paramount Pictures, continued the evening. Later came the tango A fuego lento of Horacio Salgán; Quinta Anauco of Aldemaro Romero; El dia que me quieras of Carlos Gardel; Adiós Nonino of Astor Piazzola. The group ended their performance with Joropo, the masterwork of maestro Moisés Moleiro, in special arrangement for wind octet.

The concert is part of CAF’s activities to promote culture and art.

CAF is an international financial organization formed by Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, along with Brazil, Chile, Mexico Trinidad and Tobago, which supports the sustainable development of the countries of the region, combining environmental, social and cultural variables into a globalized view of the integration process.

The Caracas Academic Octet, created in February 1979, has had important successes in prestigious national and international venues including, the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution and the OAS America Salon in Washington DC; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Mannes College of Music, the World Financial Center and Americas Society, in New York. They have also performed in the leading theaters of Madrid, Las Palmas and Galicia, as well as in Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires, and have participated in international music festivals in Costa Rica, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia, Curacao, Suriname and Uruguay. The group has recorded three CDs which have received excellent reviews from music lovers and critics. The musicians are: Miguel Rutigliano and José Gregorio Sánchez (oboes); Mark Friedman and Alejandro Montes de Oca (clarinets); Filiberto Núñez and Rúben Oscher (bassoons); and José Arias and Guiomar Hernández (cornets).

The distinctions they have received include the Order of Diego de Lozada, first class, awarded by the Caracas Municipal Council; Best Classical Music Group, 1995, by Casa del Artista; and nomination for the Ronda Prize as Best Classical Recording in 1994.