Around 400 people filled the Unioeste auditorium on Saturday, the 7th, to see the inaugural concert of the Foz do Iguaçu Philharmonic Orchestra (OFFI).
Made up of 28 members and conducted by maestro Juan Ramón Vera González, the orchestra was created from the initiative of a group of musicians from Foz do Iguaçu and Ciudad del Este.
The inaugural concert had two parts. In the first, eight pieces were performed, including The spring, by Vivaldi; Bachiana No. 4 (first movement), by Villa-Lobos; and the fifth symphony (first movement), by Beethoven.
The second part was dedicated to the presentation of arias, with the participation of the Canto em Canto Vocal Group, from Foz do Iguaçu.
Some of the pieces displayed were Habanera, Opera Carmen, by Bizet; My Babbino Caro, Opera Gianni Schicchi, by Puccini; and in closing, Libiamo, ne´lieti calici (Brindisi)Verdi.
The inaugural concert was organized through voluntary work and the efforts of the musicians themselves, who mobilized to sell tickets to friends and acquaintances.
“We have to make an initial effort to show the work”, emphasizes Juan.
The result was surprising. Tickets sold out two days before the show, and the group received a standing ovation at the opening performance.
Latin American tones
The philharmonic is made up of musicians from Brazil, Paraguay, El Salvador, Venezuela, Cuba and Argentina. Some are students of the Unila Music course.
Graduated in Orchestral Conducting in Argentina, maestro Juan says that the idea of forming an orchestra in Foz arose after concerns from the musicians themselves regarding the lack of a philharmonic orchestra in the city and the lack of a theater.
Through conversations, Juan, who is also an artistic and musical producer and mentor and founder of the Alto Paraná Philharmonic Orchestra, brought together professional musicians and students and formed the group, which began rehearsals on its own initiative.
The idea, he says, is not only to showcase classical music in Foz, but also to hold courses, seminars and train new musicians.
According to him, it is important that the city has its own space for classical music because of the acoustics.
At the end of the event, the musicians displayed a banner asking for a theater for Foz do Iguaçu.
Rehearsals in improvised places
Juan says that the group started rehearsing in April last year and traveled to several places until finding a temporary base in Vila A.
To cover expenses, including renting the auditorium, the group got support from some local companies and raised money through ticket sales.
Tickets were handed out to people by the orchestra's own staff, who traveled in their own vehicles.
For the inaugural concert, the orchestra only received financial support from the private sector. As it does not yet have a legal entity, it is difficult to obtain public support.
The orchestra is planning a second performance in September. The idea, according to Juan, is to work with other genres associated with classical music, combining, for example, rock and orchestra.
