By H.E. Francisco Mauro Brasil de Holanda
Ambassador of Brazil
It gives me great pleasure to invite all those who love music to attend the public and free performance of the prestigious band ‘Choro Livre’, at Yarmouk Cultural Center, on 18 November, at 7:00 PM.
Choro Livre is a jewel of Brazilian music. It will visit Kuwait as part of the celebrations of the 200 years of the Independence of my country on 7 September 1822.
The band was born in Brasilia in 1993, and has since established itself as a legend. It regularly performs at a vintage building projected by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer in Brasilia, that hosts today the ‘Clube do Choro’, Choro Livre’s mother cell. Choro Livre’s members play an important role in the training of 1,200 young musicians who attend Clube do Choro’s school music.
Choro Livre’s virtuosity has shined at the gardens of the United Nations headquarter, in New York City, and in many countries – Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, Check Republic, France, Kuwait (2019), Peru, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Uruguay and United States, to mention just a few.
As in its birth certificate, Choro Livre plays a Brazilian rhythm called ‘choro’, or ‘chorinho’. Considered as one of the pillars of Brazil’s popular music, its rich array of rhythms gave rise to various sub-genres, such as samba-choro and polka-choro.
Like ragtime in the United States, tango in Argentina and habanera in Cuba, choro results from musical styles and rhythms coming from Europe and Africa.
Choro is usually played by a trio of flute, guitar and cavaquinho (a small chordophone, sort of ukulele with four strings). Other instruments commonly played are the mandolin, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.
These instruments are usually backed by a rhythm section composed of 6-string guitar, 7-string guitar (playing bass lines) and light percussion, such as a tambourine. The group that will perform in Kuwait is composed by five musicians: Pablo Fagundes (harmonica); Márcio de Souza (cavaquinho – sort of ukulele); Henrique neto (7 strings guitar); Valério Xavier (percussion); and George Costa (6 strings guitar).
In compliance with the applicable social distance and health protocols, a vaccination proof by Immune or Kuwait Mobile ID and face mask are required to the attendants.
Due to the seats limitation, please confirm your attendance on:
https://chorolivre2021.rsvpify.com/
I cannot finish without a special note of gratitude to Sheikha Hussah Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and to Sabah Al Rayes, who welcomed Choro Livre’s visit from the first moment I approached them. I also thank the Kuwait’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Information, that guided us to meet the consular and administrative requirements involved.
See you at Yarmouk Cultural Center.
