The University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra begins its new season under the direction of a guest conductor. As part of a so-called ‘podium exchange,’ UW Symphony director Michael Griffith conducted an American piece in Brazil.
On Thursday, Brazilian conductor Carlos Henrique Costa will conduct two works from his home country in Laramie. One piece, Museu da Inconfidência, by César Guerra-Peixe, draws on folkloric styles. The other piece, Psalmus, by living composer João Guilherme Ripper, reflects the modern urban experience.
Percussion plays an important role in both works. “Percussion is a big thing in Brazil,” said Costa. “And how these composers orchestrate also brings some of the flavors we have in Brazil: the combination of some chords, the harmonic progressions. All that together proposes a different kind of atmosphere.”
The UW Symphony will perform the Brazilian works along with a trumpet concerto by Lowell Lieberman, with soloist Scott Meredith, and an overture by Shostakovich.
Costa teaches at the Federal University of Goiás, Brazil. He’ll conduct the season opening concert Thursday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. at UW’s Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.