By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Sunday, July 29th, the British and Commonwealth Society will be hosting an evening of Shakespeare, with music performed by acclaimed celloist David Chew and friends, in order to raise money for RICE (Rio International Cello Encounter) which offers free concerts and music classes to marginalized communities in Brazil.
The evening will be centered around a candlelit dinner of homemade, authentic Indian curry. There will then be readings from some of Shakespeare’s great plays, introduced by Erick Ramalho, former President of the Shakespeare Studies Centre of Brazil.
Providing the musical interludes to these pieces will be internationally renowned cellist and founder of RICE, David Chew. He will be accompanied in these interludes by his group of world-class musicians. There will also be a tango performed by Cecilia Gonzalez and André Carvalho, an Elizabethan string quartet, as well as plenty of other surprises.
All of the money raised will go to RICE (Rio International Cello Encounter) which is a charitable music festival currently celebrating its 24th continuous year. RICE offers forty musical presentations and master-classes while also putting on a free cello festival.
By being free, it is open to anyone who wishes to enjoy and learn about classical music, dance and art. They also specifically aim to help youth from poorer communities, introducing them to classical music and teaching them new skills, such as playing instruments.
As part of the fundraising effort for RICE in August, there will be raffle at the Shakespeare Evening. Some of the prizes that are on offer include two tickets to the Grand Hyatt’s ‘West Side Story’ show plus dinner; two green fees for Rio’s Olympic Golf Course; a Gilson Martins designer bag; a premium organic wine from Winehouse bar and Cru Natural Wines, and many more prizes.
This should be a wonderful evening for those who enjoyed the British and Commonwealth Society’s summer garden party, or those who attended the recent harp festival in Rio.
What: British & Commonwealth Society of Rio de Janeiro (BCS) Shakespeare Evening with David Chew
When: Sunday, July 29th, 5PM-9PM
Where: Jubilee Hall, Rua Real Grandeza 99, Botafogo
Entrance: R$135pp BCS members (R$150pp non-members). Price includes all food, beer and entertainment, with a cash bar. To reserve a space, email [email protected]