Talents from 12 countries meet in the Capital of the Pantanal, Corumbá, opening the schedule of the Festival América do Sul this Thursday (15). It is the Orquestra América do Sul (South America Orchestra), a dream that began years ago with Márcia Rolon, founder and director of the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano, and which now takes shape. The concert will be free, at 7:30pm, at the Palco do Porto Geral.
The project unites musicians from the continent in an unprecedented encounter of cultures, rhythms and affections, celebrating music as the universal language of integration. The formation of the orchestra is the result of coordination by Márcia and Eduardo Martinelli, with support from the Fundação de Cultura do Mato Grosso do Sul and the musicians themselves from all over South America.
“It was a dream of ours! And now it comes true! The FAS being the stage for the first South America Orchestra, and for this to become part of future Festivals,” says Márcia Rolon.
For Martinelli, it is a joy to see this whole movement take shape. “We have to celebrate this work! We count on everyone’s presence at this great show,” he says.
The orchestra is made up of a special team of Brazilian musicians and guests from 12 countries: Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname and Brazil — with the participation of musicians from the Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal (Pantanal Chamber Orchestra, OCAMP), Moinho Cultural, and the Orquestra Sinfônica de Campo Grande.
The performance will feature works by Mário Zan and Altair Silva Neto (Tim) — honorees of this edition — as well as a diverse repertoire spanning rhythms such as chamamé, polka, milonga, bambuco, zampoñas, Paraguayan harp, Caribbean steel drum, among others.
The Orquestra América do Sul establishes itself as an unprecedented proposal at the FAS, uniting artists of different origins, expressions and instruments to form a unique sound. In addition to the opening concert, the orchestra’s members will take part in educational workshops on May 17 and 18, from 3pm to 5pm, at Moinho Cultural.
The FAS schedule includes other participations from/at Moinho Cultural, check them out:
The Catedral Erudita project, with the special participation of musicians from the Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal (OCAMP) – a Moinho Cultural production, takes place on Saturday, at 9am, at the Igreja N.Sra da Candelária.
On Sunday (18), at 6pm, OCAMP also presents a 90s pagode concert, a show specially prepared to delight the audience as the opening for the group Pixote.
“We are extremely happy to be part of the Festival América do Sul schedule in 2025, this event that energizes Corumbá and Ladário, allowing people from outside our region to get to know our work and, of course, carrying out a true exchange of knowledge,” says José Maikson, conductor of OCAMP.
The Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano is also the stage for other FAS 2025 actions, such as the Quebra Torto Literário on Friday, starting at 8am, with the participation of writers such as Marçal Aquino, Isloany Machado and Henrique Pimenta. Learn more at the link: instagram.com/moinho_cultural.
