Monday November 9 12:00–2:00 PM
World Financial Center Winter Garden
200 Vesey Street New York, NY 10281
The 4th Annual Latin American Cultural Week kicks off in the Winter Garden with a grand concert featuring Argentina’s Carlos Franzetti, presenting Latin jazz; American Allison Brewster Franzetti, performing classical music; Mexican Max Lifchitz, playing contemporary classical; Argentina’s Octavio Brunetti, performing tango; and Uruguay’s Polly Ferman, presenting traditional Latin music. The pianists, representing a wide range of piano styles and genres of Latin music, will perform solos, pieces for 2 pianos, as well as 4 and 8 hand pieces. Also participating are tango dancers Karina Romero and Dardo Galletto.
Co-presented with Pan American Musical Art Research, Inc.
Allison Brewster Franzetti
2008 Grammy® Nominee for Best Instrumental Soloist without Orchestra, pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti has received international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for her stunning virtuosity and musicality, both as a soloist and chamber musician. She was born in New York City.
“The sheer warmth with which Allison Brewster Franzetti suffuses this unusual combination of works (on CD) makes this my Recording of the Month. These tough…works require maturity above mere technical virtuosity and Ms. Franzetti has the lot.” — MusicWeb International
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Octavio Brunetti
Argentinean-born Octavio Brunetti was awarded first prize at (Argentina’s) Mozarteum National Piano Competition in 1995. He moved to the United States in 2004 where his participation in New York’s International Tango Competition won him two first prizes: Best Solo Pianist and Best Duo. He now successfully tours with his own band, the Octavio Brunetti Quintet, and is one of the most sought after tango pianists of our time.
“Octavio is a wonderful tango pianist. Within minutes it felt as if we’d been playing together for years” — Yo-Yo Ma after recording “Soledad” by Astor Piazzolla.
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Polly Ferman
One of the leading interpreters of the music of the Americas, New York-based Uruguayan pianist Polly Ferman continues to captivate audiences with her outstanding performances Latin American repertory. Her mastery of the literature prompted The Japan Times to recognize her as “a Musical Ambassador of the Americas.” She is creator, Music Director and pianist of GlamourTango, a musical celebration of Women in Tango with an all female cast of musicians and dancers. Ferman’s numerous recordings constitute one of the world’s most extensive collections of Latin American repertoire.
“It has become Ferman’s mission, in the concert hall and in recordings, to acquaint the public with the unfairly neglected music of the Americas. She is an artist with an endearing attitude toward the compositions which she interprets…with a touching humility, fluidity of technique and richness of sound” — The Japan Times
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Carlos Franzetti
From symphonies to big band jazz, from chamber works to Latin American music and film scores and performances as a pianist – Carlos Franzetti has no limits. A native of Argentina, he is a multiple Latin Grammy® Nominee and the winner of the 2001 Latin Grammy Award for Best Tango Album, “Tango Fatal.”
“…richly scored big-band arrangements by Carlos Franzetti, also the arranger of Orquesta Nova, a strikingly beautiful collection of Latin popular and light classic pieces arranged for classical musicians…. Franzetti’s arrangements are powerful as well as colorful…” — Stereophile
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Max Lifchitz
The versatile Max Lifchitz has been a dynamic figure in America’s musical life for a number of seasons. Born in México, his activities both as composer and performer have established him as a true musical citizen of the world. He has appeared on concert stages throughout Latin America, Europe and the United States.
“Mr. Lifchitz is as good on the podium as he is behind the piano….one of America’s finest exponents of contemporary piano music.” — American Record Guide
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