“The program is challenging, but with Fernando Espinoza we have years of musical journey as a duo and that made the work much easier to achieve a good musical result,” says Constanza Bravo. The flutist and the violinist graduated three years ago and will now present together an interesting and contrasting repertoire, which includes their own adaptations, on Thursday, November 21 at Sala Luksic.
A very interesting program will be offered by two professional performers who trained at the UC Music Institute, three years after graduating. The flutist Constanza Bravo and the violinist Fernando Espinoza will present the program “Dialogues through time” within the 3rd UC Music Alumni Cycle. The presentation will take place on November 21, at 1:30 p.m., in the Luksic UC Room on the San Joaquín Campus (Vicuña Mackenna 4,860). Free registration.
Constanza Bravo and Fernando Espinoza make up the Prisma Duo and in this concert they will travel from the Baroque to the 20th century, passing through Classicism. The program includes three pieces from the collection Duo Aires Op. 11 by the Dutch composer Willem de Fesch and the Duo in E minor by Georg Philipp Telemann, as well as the Duo for flute and violin by the German Franz Anton Hoffmeister.
Afterwards, the Duo Prisma will fully enter the 20th century through adaptations that they themselves made of two collections by Luciano Berio and Bela Bartók. By the Italian composer, you will hear eight pieces from his 34 Duets for two violins (1979-1983), and from Hungarian, eight pieces from his Duets for two violins (1931).
“We wanted the program to cover different periods and, therefore, be varied in sound and styles. The most difficult thing was to choose works from the 20th century, which is why we had to adapt Violin Duos to the transverse flute, but since this instrument is quite versatile and has a register similar to that of the violin, a quite interesting sound could be achieved. In some of Bartók’s movements the adaptation is so good that one would not think that it is not original for this instrument,” comments Constanza Bravo, whose Guide teacher was Guillermo Lavado.
The Duo for flute and violin in G major by Franz Anton Hoffmeister also stands out: “It is a very idiomatic work for both instruments, full of virtuosity and with a very mature musical language. I think that many times composers like Hoffmeister are undervalued and overshadowed by others great composers of the time, and it is time to vindicate them”.
The flutist gave her title concert in October 2021, with a program that showcased her versatility by addressing works from different periods and styles, from Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach to Charles Koechlin and Philip Gaubert, passing through César Franck (see program). But he also added a variety of conformations, with four guest musicians. One of them was precisely Fernando Espinoza.
What musical and interpretive qualities would you highlight about Fernando Espinoza, with whom you will perform on Thursday, November 21?
“Fernando is a very versatile musician who knows very well how to interpret different styles. In Luciano Berio’s work it was very comfortable to work with him since he had performed the work before and he was very clear about the sound he was looking for in some movements, but he was also open to new ideas and interpretive suggestions. The program is challenging but with Fernando we have years of musical journey as a duo and that made the work much easier to achieve a good musical result.”
What does being part of the UC Music Alumni Cycle mean to you? Do you consider it relevant that this instance exists that effectively links former students with the programming of the UC Music Institute?
“For me it represents a very important and challenging instance, since currently it is difficult to have a space to perform professionally. However, the UC Music Institute is very active with concerts and recitals throughout the year, therefore, it has an audience who regularly attends and values these events. It is important that these alumni cycles continue because they give us the experience of preparing concerts that we musicians need.
This will be the first time that Constanza Bravo participates, as a former student at the Institute of Music, in a concert series. Currently working as a musician freelance.
Fernando Espinoza gave his title concert just a couple of months earlier, in August 2021. He performed demanding works by Sergei Prokofiev and Jan Sibelius. His guiding teacher at the UC Music Institute was Gonzalo Beltrán (see note). The following year, he participated in the 57th UC Chamber Season, performing alongside the pianist and professor Marcela Rodríguez and the then recently graduated Nicolás Guerrero, on clarinet, the challenging work Contrasts but Bela Bartók.
His collaborations with the artistic programming of Music UC have extended over time: last June he was the concertmaster of the UC Chamber Orchestra that offered a monograph of Ludwig van Beethoven under the direction of maestro Emmanuel Siffert at the UC Anniversary Concert, and he also played that role in the repetition concert that was held in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago.
In addition, just last November 10, he was also the first violin of the ensemble that performed alongside soloists and the UC Chamber Choir in the Bach Santiago 47 concert, conducted by Gerard Ramos.
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How do you balance the historical context of the pieces in “Dialogues Through Time” with your own artistic interpretations, ensuring both authenticity and personal expression?
## Interview with Constanza Bravo and Fernando Espinoza of Duo Prisma
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Constanza Bravo and Fernando Espinoza, the talented musicians behind Duo Prisma. They will be performing a captivating program, “Dialogues Through Time,” at the Sala Luksic on November 21st. This concert marks their return to the UC Music Institute, their alma mater, as part of the 3rd UC Music Alumni Cycle.
**Section 1: The Genesis of Duo Prisma and ”Dialogues Through Time”**
* **You’ve both been performing as Duo Prisma for some time now. Can you tell us about the origins of your duo and what drives your creative partnership?**
* **The “Dialogues Through Time” program spans centuries, from the Baroque to the 20th century. What was your vision for this diverse selection? What stories do you hope to tell through your musical interpretations?**
* **Constanza, you mentioned the challenge of adapting 20th-century violin duos for the flute. Could you elaborate on this process and the unique sonic possibilities it unlocked?**
**Section 2: Musical Influences and Interpretative Choices**
* **Fernando, your background includes performing challenging works by composers like Prokofiev and Bartók. How do these experiences inform your approach to playing in Duo Prisma?**
* **Constanza, you highlighted the often-overlooked Franz Anton Hoffmeister. What resonated with you about his work, and what makes it deserving of greater recognition in the musical landscape?**
* **When approaching music from different eras, how do you balance faithfulness to the original style with your own artistic interpretations? How do you find a unified sound as a duo?**
**Section 3: The Importance of the UC Music Alumni Cycle**
* **This concert represents your return to the UC Music Institute as part of the Alumni Cycle. What does this opportunity mean to you both as individual musicians and as representatives of the UC Music program?**
* **How do initiatives like the Alumni Cycle contribute to the professional development of young artists and the ongoing legacy of the UC Music Institute?**
* **What advice would you give to current UC Music students aspiring to build fulfilling careers in music performance?**
**Section 4: Looking Ahead for Duo Prisma**
* **Beyond this concert, what are your future aspirations for Duo Prisma? Are there any specific composers, periods, or collaborations you hope to explore in the coming years?**
* **How do you envision the role of classical music in the contemporary world? What do you feel makes it relevant and engaging for modern audiences?**
* **What message do you hope audiences will take away from your performance of “Dialogues Through Time”?**
**Concluding Remarks:**
Thank you, Constanza and Fernando, for sharing your insights and passion for music with us today. We look forward to experiencing the magic of ”Dialogues Through Time” on November 21st at Sala Luksic. We encourage our readers to attend and support the work of these talented musicians and the UC Music Institute.
