Orquestra Voadora Flying High
By Felicity Clarke, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – “There’s something really powerful about the energy put out by big a band full of horns and drums” says Tim Malik, a Rio-based musician from New York, as he waits for all his band mates from the brass bloco group Orquestra Voadora to arrive at [...]
London’s Summer Brazil Festival
By Felicity Clarke, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Summer in London has had a Brazilian flavor this year with the Southbank Centre’s “Festival Brazil”. Sponsored by HSBC, the festival has brought leading Brazilian artists, musicians and writers to Britain in a three month feast of exhibitions and events celebrating the country’s culture which [...]
Samba, the Musical Essence of Rio
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Performed to one of the liveliest, most captivating rhythms of the world, the fast and sensual samba is the driving force of the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro; what may not be as obvious to an outsider is how it is integral to the Carioca way [...]
Carnival Across Brazil
By Christine Wipfli, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – With Carnival fever in full swing, Brazilians as well as foreigners alike are celebrating this vibrant festival all over the country. Of course, Rio de Janeiro offers the most popular “desfile” or parade at the city’s Sambódromo (a purpose-built parade area), but hundreds of other cities [...]
Recycling Carnival
By Marcela Canavarro, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The idea that Carnival is a democratic event where everybody can celebrate also resonates within the business arena. This is especially true within the aluminum recycling chain that generated R$1.6 billion (US$ 857 millions) in Brazil in 2008, according to a report released by ABAL (Brazilian [...]
Carnival Courage
Editorial RIO DE JANEIRO – It is hard to think of much else besides Carnival these days, the streets of Rio are taken over by blocos (street parties) and the media glistens with colorful images of samba school parades. The official four days of Carnival start on Saturday, February 13th and last until Tuesday, February [...]
The Politics of Carnival
Opinion, by Michael Royster RIO DE JANEIRO – Here it is. The world-famous, five-day blowout of overindulgent, extravagant fun, featuring thousands of beautiful bodies, some exotically adorned and (to many Americans) shockingly exposed, all dancing and singing and parading up a storm till the break of day. Every day. The annual national catharsis, where the [...]
Blocos-heads
Opinion, by Steve Spencer RIO DE JANEIRO – Mid-summer Rio de Janeiro. Time for Carnival and, with it, the ever more ubiquitous “blocos” or block parties. Well over 100 are officially scheduled this year, and for sure these ain’t the pot luck, meet-‘n’-greet-the-neighbors events that can occur in Anytown, USA. Rather, in keeping with the [...]
Porto Da Pedra Samba School
By Bruno De Nicola, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The 2010 samba school technical rehearsals started at the Sambodrome, a thrilling weekend of cheerful parades lightened up the Sapocaí Avenue. Last Saturday night G.R.E.S. Unidos do Porto da Pedra, the gremio from São Gonçalo (just north of Niterói) showed some new moves to the [...]
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel
By Bruno De Nicola, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Samba madness salutes the New Year and the Sambodrome nights heat up again this weekend pumping energy. Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel, the white and green samba school from the western suburbs of Rio de Janeiro is getting ready for the catwalk and the 2010 [...]