The Villa-Lobos Music Society Announces the Program and Performing Artists for Its Special Concert Celebrating the 125th Birthday Anniversary of Heitor Villa-Lobos

NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Villa-Lobos Music Society has announced that on March 5, 2012 (the birthday of Heitor Villa-Lobos) a 125th Birthday Anniversary Concert will be presented by The Villa-Lobos Music Society at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, New York City.

The program selected by Dr. Alfred Heller, a friend and protege of Villa-Lobos, will include music from a cross-section of the composer's works for piano, guitar, cello, solo voice and chorus. Included will be Rudepoema for piano solo, Choro Number 1 for guitar, Modinha (from the Serestas) and Bachianas Brasileiras Number 5-Aria for guitar and soprano, Bachianas Brasileiras Number 2 (complete) for piano and cello (including the last movement called "The Little Backwoods Train"), Choros Number 3 for male chorus, and Songs of the Tropical Forest from Forest of the Amazon for piano and soprano.

According to Dr. Heller, "this program is a testament and tribute to the compositional virtuosity and versatility of Villa-Lobos, a master composer whose facility was unmatched -- writing in any form, for any instrumentation, for any genre, with the power and inspiration of genius."

Performing artists will be Alfred Heller (Piano), Richard Miller (Guitar), Naya Rodriguez-Castinado (Soprano), Peter Prosser (Cello) and Mollie Nichols (Chorus Conductor).

A 125th Birthday Anniversary Celebration Reception will follow the concert.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased through the Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center box office in person, by calling 212-501-3330, or at http://www.kaufman-center.org/merkin-concert-hall.

This concert is part of the year-long series of celebration events, which will be highlighted by the presentation of "Green Mansions," the new full-length dance work created for the historic 125th birthday anniversary commemoration. "Green Mansions" combines the instrumental and vocal music of Villa-Lobos with an adaptation for dance of naturalist William Henry Hudson's classic novel Green Mansions, set in the Amazon rainforest. Directed and choreographed by Margo Sappington, it is scheduled to be previewed at The Green Mansions Gala, planned for October 1, 2012.

For more information about the 125th Birthday Anniversary Concert, the Green Mansions Gala and all of the Anniversary Events, visit http://www.greenmansionsproject.info, or contact Alfred Heller, President, The Villa-Lobos Music Society, Inc., at 212-427-5103 or e-mail at [email protected].

About The Villa-Lobos Music Society:

The Villa-Lobos Music Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3) arts organization, was formed in 1986 by Villa-Lobos protege and friend, Alfred Heller. Its mission is to sustain and increase awareness of the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos, of his passion for music education, and of his belief that music is the universal language capable of bringing together all peoples, and of inspiring love and respect for the natural world.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE The Villa-Lobos Music Society, Inc.