Colombiage is delighted to be working with the renowned BBC to promote the work of twenty-year old self-taught British accordionist José Hernando Arias Noguera who takes to the stage with Colombian accordion king Egidio Cuadrado at the BBC Proms 2012.
José H. Arias and Egidio Cuadrado - © Chris Christodoulou/BBC
With Colombia now beginning to secure its place on the international music stage, it is no surprise that this year’s BBC Radio 3’s World Routes Academy brings together renowned Bogotá-based accordionist Egidio Cuadrado with London-born talent José Hernando Arias Noguera. Launched in 2010, the scheme aims to support and inspire UK based young world music artists by bringing them together with an internationally renowned artist in the same field and belonging to the same tradition. In this case, the spotlight has been on “vallenato”, the popular folk music from northern Colombia.
The concert on 31 July will be a rare opportunity to witness the fruits of a seven-month musical journey that has seen apprentice José Hernando learn the secrets of the trade from accordion master Egidio Cuadrado, share a stage with actor-turned-singer superstar Carlos Vives, and travel throughout Colombia absorbing the more subtle influences that come with the local culture. A mesmerising journey that could well pave the way for a new generation of vallenato ambassadors around the world.
Egidio Cuadrado, crowned King of Vallenato in 1985 at the famed Vallenato Legend Festival in Colombia, is probably best known for his collaborations with Carlos Vives with whom he has revolutionised the vallenato tradition by fusing it with rock, pop and other Caribbean rhythms. Egidio – who brings his own band – says of the event: “We’re going to play a mix of vallenato songs alternating the four traditional rhythms that characterise this folk music: paseo, son, merengue and puya. We’ll perform some traditional and some new pieces, which fuse vallenato with other Caribbean rhythms, like the Colombian champeta and cumbia, or even some reggae”.
Together with his mentor, José Hernando will be making BBC Proms history by being the first Colombians to take centre stage at the festival. The concert promises to get everyone on their feet with José’s undeniable talent and his deep-rooted love for vallenato. José Hernando says “My dream is to make this music as well known as salsa and to write lyrics in English for it”.
Date: 31 July 2012
Time: 10.15pm-11.30pm
Place: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Tickets here: £12-£16 – Standing places are available in the Arena and Gallery on the day for £5.00
Broadcast: fans across the UK are able to tune in to the concert live on BBC Radio 3
For further information:
- Full details of the concert are available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2012/july-31/14346
- For more information about BBC Radio 3’s World Routes Academy please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010bkb3
- BBC Radio 3 has been following José Hernando in his musical journey through Colombia so fans across the UK will be able to follow his footsteps on the World Routes programmes on 24 June and 1st July at 10pm; also available on the i-player for 7 days after broadcast.
Also available:
- An exclusive BBC Radio 3’s Lucy Duran interview with our very own Founders & Artistic Director Landa Acevedo-Scott on Colombian culture in London.
- José Hernando’s 6th BBC Radio 3 installement as part of the World Routes Academy is still available to enjoy at the BBC Radio 3 – World Route’s Academy website.