Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents

A Latin American Escapade

From the sprawling Venezuelan plains of Estévez’s impressionistic work to the fiery malambo of Argentinian composer Ginastera’s ballet Estancia, to Brazilian imagery in the music of Villa-Lobos, the OSM presents an exciting range of works steeped in South American colours and landscapes. Drawing from the roots of Mexican dances, Gabriela Ortiz’s radiant Trumpet Concerto will showcase OSM Principal Trumpet Paul Merkelo.

Artists
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM)
Rafael Payare, conductor
Paul Merkelo, trumpet

Paul Merkelo is a JUNO-nominated recording artist with six solo recordings, including releases for the SONY and NAXOS labels. Merkelo is featured in a visionary project entitled Gershwin’s World on MediciTV, which combines groundbreaking jazz and classical arrangements.

He has been the solo trumpeter with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM) since 1995 and is the first soloist chosen to record a feature album with the orchestra. He has also served as a guest principal trumpeter with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Merkelo was appointed Canadian Musical Ambassador to China for the inauguration of Montreal Park in Shanghai and performed as a soloist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in a national telecast. Merkelo made his New York debut at Lincoln Center with the New World Symphony Orchestra and Michael Tilson Thomas in 1998. He has collaborated with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel, Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, and Valery Gergiev.

Merkelo has taught at McGill University, the University of Montreal, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and the Music Academy of the West. He is on the board of directors for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (Canada) and is the founder of the Paul Merkelo Scholarship, which helps young, gifted brass players with financial aid and career guidance.

Gustavo Castillo, baritone

Baritone Gustavo Castillo, who comes from Barquisimeto (Venezuela), owes the beginning of his musical education to El Sistema, a renowned music project in his home country. From 2016 to 2018 Castillo was a member of the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where he started his stage career singing Peter in Humperdinck’s HANSEL UND GRETEL and Figaro in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA for children.

His projects for the 2024/25 season include a concert tour with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel with concerts of Ginastera’s Estancia at the Walt Disney Concert Hall LA, Carnegie Hall New York and Teatro Mayor in Bogota. He will sing concerts with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal as well as with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. Besides that, Gustavo will debut as Scarpia in TOSCA at Hannover State Opera.

Recent projects include his debut as Giorgio Germont in LA TRAVIATA at the New National Theater in Tokyo and as Amonasro in AIDA at Teatro Coccia in Novara. He also debuted Jake Wallace in LA FIANCULLA DEL WEST at the Teatro Regio di Torino as well as Mercutio/ROMEO ET JULIETTE at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, as Lescaut/MANON LESCAUT and Renato/UN BALLO IN MASCHERA at the Theater Klagenfurt, and as Guido di Monforte/I VESPRI SICILIANI at Teatro Comunale di Bologna. He also sang concerts in Montreal, San Diego and Los Angeles and made his debut with the MDR Symphony Orchestra under Dennis Russel Davis as the baritone soloist in Estevez’s CANTATA CRIOLLA.

Program
Heitor VILLA-LOBOS, Chôros no. 6 (25 min.)
Gabriela ORTIZ, Altar de bronce [Bronze Altar], Trumpet Concerto (18 min.)
Antonio ESTÉVEZ, Mediodía en el Llano [Noon on the Prairie] (8 min.)
Alberto GINASTERA, Estancia, op. 8, Ballet (35 min.)

Maison symphonique
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 7:30pm

To purchase your tickets, visit: www.placedesarts.com