Buenos Aires: the ultimate city of music

BUENOS AIRES VIOLIN COMPETITION. The “Second International Violin Competition Buenos Aires 2012” starts tomorrow . The first edition, held two years ago, was really succesful, and the aim of the current one, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, is to promote music studies among young people. Another objective is to create a space where students and professionals can exchanging experiences with violin players from all over the world. The jury is chaired by no less than Shlomo Mintz, one of the best violin players of our time.

After tomorrow’s opening ceremony (only for performers), the first round of concerts starts on Sunday at 10am, with free admission. The venue: Amijai Temple, Arribeños 2355. This is a unique opportunity to listen to 19 young violinists from Argentina, the US, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Korea, Paraguay and Italy. They will perform daily from Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm and from 5pm to 8pm. The second phase, with violin and orchestra, will be held next week. The full schedule is at www.violinbuenosaires.com.

Not to be missed — in a few years, these concerts are bound to be published on CD and DVD.

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PIANO CONCERT AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY. Many people learn to play the piano, with private tutors or at music conservatories, but very few people get to play recitals. Just think how many piano solo concerts you have attended this year, or even if you have attended any piano solo recitals in BA. You probably remember a few, but I‘m sure they are part of recitals featuring other instruments, chamber groups or orchestral concerts.

Next Sunday you’ll have the opportunity to listen to a very interesting piano concert with a varied programme.

Called Música en Plural, the series kicks off on Sunday at 5pm with a free-admission piano solo recital at the Auditorio Jorge Luis Borges at the National Library, Agüero 2502.

The first half will be played by Julián Salcedo Elías. The programme: a sonata by Mozart, Liszt’s Sonnet of Petrarch No. 47, and Ginastera’s Tres danzas argentinas. In the second part, Fernanda Morello and José Luis Juri will play a four-hands piano selection:Débussy’s 6 Épigraphes Antiques, and Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole.

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FESTIVAL INTEGRALES WRAPS UP. Finally, allow me to remind you that the CETC (Centro de Experimentación del Teatro Colón) is holding a series concerts called Integrales — great musicians playing the complete works for an instrument, or a complete collection of a composer’s oeuvre.

The last concerts are devoted to the complete Benjamin Britten’s Folk Songs, sung by Vìctor Torres, with Luis Mucillo on piano part. There will be two guests: Víctor Torres’ sister Celina Torres (mezzosoprano), and Federico Gianera (violoncello).

The series will be “intervened” with compositions by Mucillo, some of them world premieres. Next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the CETC.

Tickets on sale at the Colón’s box office, Tucumán 1152.