SOLO9VIOLA, with original music and arrangements of traditional songs by the musician Evandro Meneses, is a unique show of the Viola of the two hearts. From the original to the traditional, passing through the history of the music of the Azores in a journey through its nine islands is the objective of this show, thus highlighting a unique instrument of our region. “I feel confident and with a great sense of responsibility,” expresses Evandro Meneses. “In the end, I will be representing an instrument so ours, so it is necessary to demonstrate, in approximately 60 minutes, all the potential of the Viola. I aim to demonstrate from the simplest and most traditional to the most complex and erudite.”

“My inspiration for the composition of this work has been comprehensive,” continues the musician. “One of the great difficulties of composing for solo Viola is to try to keep the music from feeling naked, other than the traditional melody with basses. I always try to have an ambiance around all the themes composed. Of course, one of my main inspirations is Carlos Paredes, either in his themes or technique. He is a good reference for this type of project and work.”

Producer of SOLO9VIOLA and artistic director of MiratecArts, Terry Costa, challenged the young man to create this show to build something that may represent the Azores worldwide. “We have to trust and invest in our young artists to take further what is of reference in this archipelago, so we intend to promote this show as a postcard from the Azores to the world,” says Terry Costa.

SOLO9VIOLA received its world premiere at the Cordas Festival on the island of Pico and soon made its way to other venues and islands.

SOLO9VIOLA is a unique work that must be available to the Azorean Diaspora in North America. 

From a news story in the cultural page of the governemnt of the Azores.

Translated to English by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) through the Azorean-Diaspora Media Alliance, Bruma Publications, and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures at Fresno State and published in Novidades, from Bruma Publications at Fresno State as a community outreach program.