Traveling more than 5,000 miles from Paraguay to Pittsburg, the Trio Latinoamericano band brought the colorful sounds of South America to McCray Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 8, as part of the Hispanic Music Festival.
The free concert featured a diverse program that specifically highlighted Latin American composers and musical traditions. The event drew a smaller-than-expected crowd, but the attendees were given an exceptional evening of artistry and culture. The informational pamphlet that was distributed at the concert reflected the cultural unity theme.
The trio was made up of Gabrial Graziani on the oboe, Hilaria Ferrari on the bassoon, and Bianca Gatti on the piano, representing a collaboration of musicians. Graziani was born in Uruguay, Ferrari is from Argentina, and Gatti is from Paraguay. Although they have performed together and individually, this was their first time performing abroad.
“They left at 6 a.m. on Sunday and got here at 4 a.m. on Monday,” Isaac Hernandez, an adjunct piano instructor and one of the festival organizers, said. “Their dedication to this performance is amazing. We are so excited to have this as the seventh concert in our non-concert festival for the Hispanic Heritage month.”
The trio’s visit was sponsored by FONDEC Paraguay, a cultural organization that supports artistic projects, and coordinated with PSU for the celebration of culture. In addition to the public concert, the musicians also went to perform at Pittsburg High School and conduct a master class for students earlier in that week.
The evening’s program had 16 pieces, each chosen to reflect the range and depth of Latin American music. The opening number, “El Oboe De Gabriel” by Ennio Morricone, was only performed by Graziani and Gatti, setting the tone of emotion for the night. The second piece, “As Time Goes By” by Herman Hupfeld, only had Gatti and Ferrari play in a duet that blended popular influences with the classical.
After that, the trio reunited for “Capullito De Alelí” by Rafael Hernández, filling the hall with the warmth of a Caribbean-South American harmony. For the rest of the night, all three musicians performed together, showcasing their skills of precision and depth.
All three performers brought their own unique artistry to the stage. Graziani’s oboe carried the lyrical phrasing and tone; Ferrari’s bassoon playing grounded the group with its depth, and the piano performance from Gatti provided the sensitivity and drive that painted a portrait of traditional dialogue.
Each piece was met with applause from the audience. After the final songs, the Trio Latinoamericano bowed and thanked the audience for their applause and the ability to share their culture so far from home.