ELIZABETH BALL - violin
GRAHAM WALKER - cello
IVAN GUEVARA-BERNAL - piano
video clip (5.6MG)
Classico Latino is a project that demonstrates the universal and cross-cultural
nature of music. It all started back in 1998 when an unheard ‘Latin Serenade’ was
first put in place by Ivan Guevara-Bernal on the piano and Graham Walker on
the ‘cello. In 1999 Elizabeth Ball arrived in Cambridge and joined the
group playing the violin. Ever since they have explored a wonderful repertoire
of Latin American classics giving rise to the Classico Latino Trio. Even though
the three of them are classically trained and in fact Graham and Elizabeth
are very active performers of the classical repertoire written for their respective
instruments, in Classico Latino they put all their talent and skill to perform
the popular Latin American repertoire in a unique combination of instruments,
and styles. In spite of keeping its classical format, Classico Latino expresses
the original passion and joy of the Latin American rhythms resulting in a contagious
sound unheard of in their country of origin.Classico Latino performs extensively to audiences more used to western classical music, to show not only the versatility of the instruments they play, but also the immediacy of the music. It is music with extraordinary appeal to people from all cultural backgrounds, due largely to the universal nature of its message. The idea of love features frequently in these songs, as does that of simply having a good time. It is this uncomplicated approach, combined with memorable tunes and catchy rhythms, which makes their music so accessible. It is a music for all people.
Their repertoire includes music from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba among others and also their very own compositions. Their mastery of rhythms relatively unknown in Europe like the ‘pasillo’, ‘joropo’, ‘bolero’ and ‘son’ are a great success in concert halls, together of course with the most well known traditional tangos and sambas.
Classico Latino performs extensively in the UK, and it does an annual tour in Switzerland. Future projects include a tour to Colombia, an invitation to play in Ghana, a possible invitation to play at the Coffee International Federation Gallery in New York and the recording of a second CD.
Individually, the musicians of Classico Latino have performed at the Royal College of Music, The Britten Opera School, Royal Academy of Music, Cambridge music societies, Royal Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St. John’s Smith Square and venues in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Latvia, France. They have worked with many great musicians, including Christopher Robinson, Bernard Haitink, Gordan Nikolic and many more, and have recorded for Naxos, EMI, Chandos, Nimbus, and Quillisma.
Further details at ClassicoLatino.com Return to Lizzie Balls's homepage.