Press Contact: Gonzalo Cortés (860) 490-2755 Gabriel Löfvall (860) 869-5475 info@duodelsur.com Booking Information: Duo Del Sur 21 Kent Lane Farmington, CT 06032 Phone: (860) 490-2755 info@duodelsur.com Media Kit The strength and mystique of the south of the world The virtuosity and poetry of a classical chamber music ensemble Duo Del Sur www.duodelsur.com
Gabriel Löfvall and Gonzalo Cortés www.duodelsur.com page 2
About Duo Del Sur The mission of Duo Del Sur is to communicate the poetry and expressiveness of the music of Latin American composers through a mixture of traditional repertoire for flute and piano and music featuring wind instruments of the Andes. Duo Del Sur, meaning Duo from the South, in direct reference to the South American countries from which the musicians are originally from, was born as a standard flute and piano twosome and progressively acquired the aim of creating a new musical project, more concerned with the popular roots of Latin American soul. The musicians then became united and impelled the use of an extraordinary variety of autochthonous instruments which are the expression of their identity. That's the way it happened. Duo Del Sur has been, since its beginning, a group of singular characteristics. Outstanding musicians Gabriel Löfvall from Argentina and Gonzalo Cortés from Chile have been playing together as a duo since 2001, when they fortuitously met at a concert. They have a great friendship and a musical rapport which they spread through energetic and fun-filled performances. They have built up an extensive and varied repertoire which ranges from Bach Sonatas through twentieth century classics (Martin, Messiaen, Ibert, Poulenc, Jolivet, Piazzolla) to the incomparable repertoire of their native countries. Gabriel and Gonzalo enjoy putting together imaginative, accessible concert programs with something for everyone. In their search for a true Latin-American spirit, these musicians have explored the depths of Latino ancestry, Hispanic heritage and mestizo influences, not only in music but in their correlative creative languages such as literature and the graphic arts, trying to grasp the common denominator of their cultural legacy. Also, it is by acknowledging their role in the reality of a globalized world that they feel at ease by fusing all the above-mentioned elements and thus, create recitals programs of unabashed eclecticism, even including brand new pieces especially crafted for Duo Del Sur by young American composers. That s why Duo Del Sur eagerly encourages and accepts submissions from a broad range of composers on an ongoing basis. Duo Del Sur has performed throughout Connecticut with great success in many concert series, recital halls and festivals. They have also collaborated with the Church Street Singers of Hartford, and the Main Street Singers of New Britain. www.duodelsur.com page 3
Individual Biographies Gonzalo Cortés, flute Gonzalo Cortés, a native of Chile, began studying flute at the age of 12 in the La Serena School of Music. He studied with Alberto Harms at the Catholic University of Chile, graduating in 1993. During his studies there, he won the Principal Flute position with the Classical Orchestra of Santiago, which he held for 8 years. He then came to the United States and earned an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University with Robert Langevin, Principal Flute of the New York Philharmonic, as his teacher. As a soloist he has toured South America with the Classical Orchestra of Santiago, the Chamber Orchestra of Chile, and the Chamber Orchestra of the Catholic University of Chile. Mr. Cortés has performed at numerous festivals in both the United States and South America such as the Primer Festival Internacional de Flauta in Rio de Janeiro, Semanas Musicales de Frutillar, Chile and the Western Slope Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado. In addition to Mr. Cortés' classical training pursuit he is also a proponent of South American folklore music. He performs regularly as a soloist on zampoña and quena. He has recorded with the internationally acclaimed Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani and a Spanish version of Prokofiev s Peter and the Wolf with the National Youth Symphony of Chile as well as for national television broadcasts in Colombia. Mr. Cortés has collaborated with the Church Street Singers of Hartford and with the renowned guitarist Daniel Salazar. Currently Mr. Cortés lives in the Hartford area and performs with pianist Gabriel Löfvall in Duo del Sur and teaches flute and recorder at the Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford, Connecticut. Upcoming projects for Mr. Cortés include the release of the recording of Ariel Ramírez s Misa Criolla with The Choral Arts Society of Washington for the Naxos label in May 2005. Gabriel Löfvall, piano Pianist Gabriel Löfvall was born in Mendoza, Argentina. He attended the National University of Cuyo and studied piano there with Dora De Marinis. He took his first musical steps at the age of 10, as a chorister of the National University of Cuyo Boys Choir. He now resides in New Haven, having graduated from the Hartt School where he was a student of the celebrated Brazilian pianist, Luiz de Moura Castro. Gabriel has won top prizes at several prestigious South-American piano competitions including the Eistedvod Competition in Chubut, Argentina, and the Saint Cecilia Competition in Chile. He also earned the Diario Los Andes Grand Prize and the ACE 95 Award for his participation in the recording of the complete piano works of Alberto Ginastera. He appears as a soloist on recordings of the complete piano output of Carlos Guastavino and Juan José Castro, all of these, important Argentinean composers. Gabriel has intensively performed as both soloist and chamber music artist in the major cities of Argentina, as well as in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, England and Portugal. He has repeatedly appeared as a soloist with several orchestras performing paramount compositions of the piano literature. Gabriel has a tenor voice as well and, in addition he has joined the ranks of the all-professional group Concora, a group he has also accompanied on occasion. At present he is the Director of Music at Saint Patrick Church of Farmington, after having held similar posts at the Church of Christ Congregational of Norfolk and Saint Justin in Hartford. He is the accompanist for the Church Street Singers, based at St. Patrick-St. Anthony, Hartford, a position he has held since the creation of the group in 1998. He recently became the Assistant Music Director of the newly formed Main Street Singers of New Britain. www.duodelsur.com page 4
Sample Programs: 2004-2005 Season Flute and Piano The extensive literature for flute and piano gives you the opportunity to travel through the time in the music world from the baroque era to modern days. Six Sonatas for Flute and Continuo.J.S. Bach Sonatina for Flute and Piano.Eldin Burton Chant de Linos.André Jolivet Ballade Frank Martin Sonata for Flute and Piano..Francis Poulenc Vocalise.Sergei Rachmaninov Joueurs de Flûte...Albert Roussel Latin American music and folk music from South America This program shows the beauty and poetry of the music of this part of the world. A highlight is the featuring of native instruments of the Andean Region. Poema del Pastor Coya.Angel Lasala La Region Mas Transparente Leo Brouwer "Aria" from Bachianas Brasileiras #5.Heitor Villa-lobos Valle for Solo Quena..Gonzalo Cortés Fuga y Misterio.Astor Piazzolla Sonata for Flute and Piano...Breno Blauth Ojos Azules Traditional from Andes Gracias a la Vida..Violeta Parra Adios Nonino.Astor Piazzolla www.duodelsur.com page 5
Sample Programs: 2004-2005 Season(cont.) Combo Concert: This is Duo del Sur s specialty. This program combines traditional repertoire and Latin American music featuring instruments of the Andean region. Part I Poema del Pastor Coya Angel Lasala (Argentina, 1942) 1. Con la chola y el changuito 2. Quena 3. Danzando Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5.Heitor Villalobos (Brazil, 1887-1959) Sonata in G minor for flute and piano...j.s. Bach (Germany, 1685-1750) I. Allegro II. Adagio III. Allegro Valle for solo quena.gonzalo Cortes (Chile) Malambo Op.7 for Piano solo. Alberto Ginastera (Argentina, 1916-1983) Allegro for flute and piano...breno Blauth (Brazil, 1931-1993) Part II La fille aux cheveux de lin...claude Debussy (France, 1862-1918) Ballade...Frank Martin (Switzerland, 1890-1974) Ojos Azules...Traditional of the Andes (Peru) Gracias a la vida... Violeta Parra (Chile, 1917-1967) Adios Nonino...Astor Piazzolla (Argentina, 1921-1992) www.duodelsur.com page 6
Sample Programs: 2004-2005 Season(cont.) Abridged Combo Concert: This is a condensed version of the previous program and can be performed as a one-part recital. Program Poema del pastor Coya.Angel Lasala (Argentina, 1942) Quena Danzando Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 Heitor Villalobos (Brazil, 1887-1959) Sonata in G minor for flute and piano...j.s. Bach (Germany, 1685-1750) Allegro Valle for solo quena Gonzalo Cortes (Chile) Malambo Op.7 for Piano solo.alberto Ginastera (Argentina, 1916-1983) Ballade...Frank Martin (Switzerland, 1890-1974) Ojos Azules..Traditional of the Andes (Peru) Gracias a la vida...violeta Parra (Chile, 1917-1967) Adios Nonino...Astor Piazzolla (Argentina, 1921-1992) www.duodelsur.com page 7
Selected Repertoire PIECE Six Sonatas for Flute and Continuo Sonatina for Flute and Piano Chant de Linos Ballade Sonata for Flute and Piano Vocalise Joueurs de Flûte Sonata for Flute and Piano La Region Mas Transparente Poema del Pastor Coya Fuga y Misterio Adios Nonino Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras #5 Valle for Solo Quena Ojos Azules Gracias a la Vida Charagua El Aparecido COMPOSER J.S. Bach Eldin Burton André Jolivet Frank Martin Francis Poulenc Sergei Rachmaninov Albert Roussel Breno Blauth Leo Brouwer Angel Lasala Astor Piazzolla Astor Piazzolla Heitor Villa-Lobos Gonzalo Cortés Traditional (Andes) (arr. Gonzalo Cortés) Violetta Parra Victor Jara Victor Jara www.duodelsur.com page 8