RIO Gaëlle Solal, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie & Roberto Beltrán Zavala

• Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 - 1959): Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra, W 501:
• 1 Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra, W 501: I. Allegro Preciso 05:45
• 2 Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra, W 501: II. Andantino e andante - Cadenza 08:17
• 3 Villa-Lobos: Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra, W 501: III. Allegretto non troppo 04:57
• Chiquinha Gonzaga (1847 - 1935): Suite Chiquinha Gonzaga (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Paulo Aragão):
• 4 Gonzaga: Suite Chiquinha Gonzaga (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Paulo Aragão): I. Ó abre alas 03:23
• 5 Gonzaga: Suite Chiquinha Gonzaga (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Paulo Aragão): II. Paraguaçu 04:21
• 6 Gonzaga: Suite Chiquinha Gonzaga (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Paulo Aragão): III. Saudade 05:10
• 7 Gonzaga: Suite Chiquinha Gonzaga (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Paulo Aragão): IV. Gaúcho 04:48
• Clarice Assad (b. 1978): Concerto O Saci-Pererê:
• 8 Assad: Concerto O Saci-Pererê: I. The Magic Cap 09:02
• 9 Assad: Concerto O Saci-Pererê: II. Matita Perê 06:10
• 10 Assad: Concerto O Saci-Pererê: III. Dust Devil 07:19
• Ernesto Nazareth (1863 - 1934): Brejeiro (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Gaëlle Solal and Élodie Bouny):
• 11 Nazareth: Brejeiro (Arr. for Guitar and Orchestra by Gaëlle Solal and Élodie Bouny) 03:43
• Total Runtime 01:02:55

Info for RIO

If the flamboyant guitarist who is Gaëlle Solal has grasped one truth above all, it is that some paths must wander before they arrive. Her devoted companionship with Brazilian musicians, whether in Rio or far beyond, has given her not only the language but also the effortless sway of the Carioca rhythms that have woven themselves into our musical imagination for more than a century. On this album, she is joined by the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie under the direction of Roberto Beltrán Zavala.

From Choro to Maxixe, these nostalgic or restless pieces carry us to a place on earth that never ceases to fascinate, precisely because it never ceases transforming.

From the roots of Brejeiro to the Concerto of Heitor Villa-Lobos and through the luminous popular instinct of Chiquinha Gonzaga, Gaëlle Solal leads us toward an inspired celebration of the magical myth of the Saci. Here, through the voice of composer Clarice Assad, this mischievous spirit of Rio has become a Concerto for the sovereign instrument of a Brazil that we have long dreamed of hearing so closely.

Gaëlle Solal, classical guitar
Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie
Roberto Beltrán Zavala, conductor

Gaëlle Solal
Born in Marseilles (France) in 1978, Gaëlle began the guitar at age of 6 with René Bartoli. With 14, she won three gold medals at the Conservatoire de Marseilles and as the best student of all instruments, was awarded the Prix de la Ville de Marseille.

Afterward she studied with Alberto Ponce at Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Paris, Roberto Aussel at Musikhochscule Köln (Germany) and Alvaro Pierri at Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada).

She participated in many masterclasses with legendary guitarist such as Pepe Romero, Antigoni Goni, Roland Dyens, Oscar Ghiglia, Leo Brouwer, Alvaro Pierri and Joaquin Clerch.

Among the many international prizes she has been awarded are: 1st Grand Prix at Alessandria Competition, 1st Prize in Locquémeau, 1st Prize in Savona, 1st Prize in Sernancehle, Finalist at Concert Artists Guild New York, Honor Diplom at Accademia Chigiana and 2nd Prize at Guitar Foundation of America.

She has performed in Festival such as Ile de France, Noches en los Reales Alcázares in Sevilla, Festival dAvignon, Festival Montpellier-Radio France and at Salle Cortot (Paris), Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), Tsuda Hall, Nikkei Hall, Oji Hall in Tokyo, Merkin Concert Hall (NY). She recorded for NHK, France Musiques, RFI, and RAI.Gaëlle played with the Berkeley Symphony, the Garde Républicaine Orchestra and the Philharmonic Turin Orchestra. She toured in more than 30 countries including Germany, Myanmar, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Spain, France, Gabon, India, Iceland, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Palestine, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, US.

Having a passion for contemporary music, Gaëlle performed the 1st interpretation in Italy of Concerto by Maurice Ohana, the creation of the Double Concerto by Naomi Sekiya with Kent Nagano in Berkeley, the creation of three new compositions at Cordoba Guitar Festival 2006 and the creation of a new piece for clarinet and guitar by Ibarrondo. Her curiosity to explore the boundaries between classical music and popular music leads her to get a "Meisterklasse" diplom in « Akustische Gitarre/Konzertmusik/worldmusik/Jazz/Pop » with Thomas Fellow at Musikhoschschule of Dresden. Gaëlle has been teaching at the Superior Conservatories of Cordoba (2002-04) and Sevilla (2003-09) in Spain. Appreciated teacher, she now travels all over the world to give concerts and masterclasses as well as workshops and to be jury at national and international competitions.

Booklet for RIO