Harpblog

Voices of Latin America in NYC

It's been a good week for Latin American harp in New York. First up, here's a recent, fantastic review for Edmar Castaneda in the Wall St Journal. The WSJ also points out that New Yorkers have two more opportunities to hear Edmar in November: at the Americas Society on the 19th and the 26th, as part of Carnegie Hall's Voices of Latin America Festival. 

 

 

The Mexican-Paraguyan virtuoso Celso Duarte has also been in NYC, again performing for Carnegie Hall as part of the same festival. Celso has just been awarded a Latin Grammy for best folk music album, with the disc he's recently made with Lila Downs - Pecados y Milagros.

Congratulations to both these wonderful artists! We're very proud to have recently sent one of our electric llanera harps, a model developed for and together with Edmar, to Celso as well. 

 

Celso Duarte with his Camac llanera

 

Edmar Castaneda at Ayelet's String, Israel

 

Many thanks to Nadav Konieczny for these photos of a recent workshop given by Edmar Castaneda at the Ayelet's String showroom. You can see the full album, and some short videos, on the Ayelet's String facebook page. A big thank-you too to the workshop participants for their feedback below!

"The workshop was an amazing experience! There was a great atmosphere, and I was amazed by Edmar's playing and personality. It gave me a new musical direction and I will never forget it. Thank you!" - Maya Knoller

"Edmar's workshop was very invigorating: with his smile, Edmar shows how much he loves music and the harp. He also gets everyone involved in experiencing his very special music and rhythms. His workshop was highly polished, and had everyone playing bossa nova by the end!" - Ruth Maayani

"It was very interesting to meet Edmar, he is a virtuoso, but also humble and willing to help ordinary people." - Nili Konieczny

Edmar Castaneda's new album: Double Portion

 

Celso Duarte at Carnegie Hall

If you were following Harpblog's reports from the Eleventh World Harp Congress in Vancouver, you might remember this video of Celso Duarte improvising, together with his father and Eduardo Betancourt, on the Camac stand.

 

 

And now, good news for New Yorkers: Celso will be performing at Carnegie Hall on December 11th at 1PM. Even better: it's a family concert, so everyone can enjoy Celso's virtuoso performance on Mexican and Paraguayan harps!