Ilmar Gavilán and Aldo López-Gavilán perform at the 2022 Newport Classical Music Festival
Newport Classical 22 subscribers
1,020 views May 22, 2023 July 9, 2022 at The Breakers Violinist Ilmar Gavilán and pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, two of the most gifted Cuban musicians of these times, come together under the artistic name “Gavilán Brothers”, in a duo program of their own compositions; and Aldo López-Gavilán performs the world premiere of a new work by critically acclaimed and award-winning composer, Shawn E. Okpebholo. This piece for solo piano is inspired by the story of Occramer Marycoo, an enslaved African in 18th-century Newport, whose owner dubbed him Newport Gardner. Marycoo, despite his enslavement, became educated, speaking multiple languages, and becoming a trained classical musician. He is credited with being the first African American person to have a composition published in the Western-style. The work was called “Crooked Shanks.” Okpebholo’s work reflects the “perils of the enslaved, the hope of freedom, and the return home.” Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. We present world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport—an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination. Our iconic summer Music Festival, year-round Chamber Series, and family-friendly, free Community Concerts represent a broad range of composers, formats, artists, and sounds from the classical genre—ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We are proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape—and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form.
