Stringfest: Aristides Rivas and Boston String Academy

A Stringfest Program 

Reprising Aristides Rivas’ Suite Boricua, a favorite piece from our 2019 commemoration of Pablo Casals and the all-cello orchestras he made popular in his music festivals in Puerto Rico, the young musicians from Boston String Academy take the stage at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Uphams Corner. 

Rivas conducts the Boston String Academy players for the piece, which was written in two versions: for an all-cello orchestra and a more typical string ensemble. Percussionist Jorge Arce (on bombas) joins the young musicians.

Rivas, a Venezuelan-American, also appears as a cellist to perform a brand-new trio composition alongside two other extraordinary Venezuelan artists, cuatro innovator Carlos Capacho and harpist Eduardo Betancourt. Drawing on the expertise of our professional musicians, the program also features an array of originals and South American favorites from various genres.  

All the musicians - professional and student alike - come together at the end to perform a newly-orchestrated Rivas piece together!

Whether you’re accompanying your young musician, or if you just want to hear some amazing adult musicians as they mentor and support a group of talented kids, we hope you’ll come out to celebrate all things strings at our third Stringfest performance of the season! Stringfest performances offer young musicians an opportunity to learn from and perform alongside renowned Boston-based musicians and spoken-word artists. 

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven     Allegro ma non tanto from String Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, no. 4
Aquiles Báez     A Mis Hermanos
Manuel Yánez     Viajera del Río 
Ricardo Sandobal     El Cruzao 
Aristides Rivas     Suite Boricua  (2019; commissioned by Celebrity Series of Boston for Neighborhood Arts) 
Juan Vicente Torrealba     Concierto en la Llanura con Gabán 

Also available as a streaming performance premiering April 6, 2023 at 4pm.