A South American and World Premiere for Two Sierra Works
August 9 — Roberto Sierra’s Cuentos will receive its South American premiere in San Paolo, Brazil by the cutting-edge, contemporary music ensemble Camera Aberta. Specializing in contemporary music, this versatile San Paolo-based group of 16 musicians will be conducted by Joel Sachs. Sierra’s Cuentos for chamber orchestra was originally composed in 1997, and received its world premiere that same year by Camerata de las Américas and Joel Sachs.
August 24 — Next up will be the exciting world premiere of Fuego de ángel (Quartet for Piano and Strings) at the Music from Angel Fire Festival. Featuring the chamber music ensemble Opus One, Fuego de ángel was both commissioned by and dedicated to Music from Angel Fire with the support of the Bruce E. Howden, Jr. American Composers Project and Friends of the Festival. Sierra, who has served as Composer-in-Residence for Angel Fire says, “The inspiration for Fuego de ángel was a place that, although I have never visited, triggered my imagination. The idea of an angel in conjunction with fire reminded me of images from renaissance and early baroque religious paintings; in particular some of the Latin American early colonial works which, in fantastic and unusual ways, depict celestial battles between good and evil— such as the many representations of the archangel Michael defeating the devil.”
Other recent projects of Sierra’s include his two best-selling CD releases, Caribbean Rhapsody and Piano Trios Nos. 1-3 / Fanfarria, aria y movimiento perpetuo. Caribbean Rhapsody features jazz virtuoso James Carter and was recently named Jazz Station’s “CD of the Month” for May, while Piano Trios features the Trio Arbós and was named April’s “Recording of the Month” by Music Web International.