Author: Alfredo Casuso

Breanna Sinclairé, de San Francisco, faz sua estreia sul-americana no Festival Virtuosi em Recife, Brasil, em 14 de dezembro

Contato para a mídia:

David Perry & Associates, Inc

(415) 676-7007

news@davidperry.com

Breanna Sinclairé, de San Francisco, faz sua estreia sul-americana no Festival Virtuosi em Recife, Brasil, em 14 de dezembro

Soprano trans pioneira destaca a diversidade e a arte da ópera americana no XXVI Festival Virtuosi Rafael Garcia

10 de dezembro de 2024 – San Francisco, CA: A aclamada soprano Breanna Sinclairé, celebrada por suas conquistas inovadoras e apresentações internacionais, fará sua tão esperada estreia sul-americana no XXVI Festival Virtuosi Rafael Garcia, que ocorre de 11 a 15 de dezembro de 2024, em Recife, Brasil.

Conhecida por sua carreira histórica, voz poderosa e capacidade de se conectar com públicos ao redor do mundo, a apresentação de Sinclairé destaca o compromisso do Festival Virtuosi com o diálogo cultural e a excelência musical.

Natural de Baltimore e graduada pelo Conservatório de Música de San Francisco, Sinclairé fez história como a primeira mulher trans a concluir o prestigiado programa de ópera da instituição. Além de seus papéis célebres em Carmen, A Flauta Mágica, L’enfant et les sortilèges e West Side Story, Sinclairé se apresentou em cidades importantes como San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Berlim, Amsterdã e Toronto, cativando audiências internacionais com sua arte. Ela também apareceu em redes nacionais de televisão nos Estados Unidos, incluindo United Shades of America da CNN com W. Kamau Bell e a transmissão nacional True Colors da PBS. Sinclairé foi a primeira cantora trans a interpretar o hino nacional dos Estados Unidos em um grande evento esportivo profissional, durante um jogo do Oakland As em 2015.

“A música transcende fronteiras, oferecendo-nos uma linguagem universal de expressão e conexão,” disse Sinclairé. “Apresentar-me no Festival Virtuosi não é apenas uma honra, mas um sonho realizado — trazer minha história, minha voz e meu coração ao Brasil. Estou emocionada em compartilhar a tradição do festival de celebrar a música como uma força que nos une.”

Fundado em 1998, o Festival Virtuosi continua sendo uma pedra angular da cena musical clássica do Brasil, oferecendo concertos gratuitos, masterclasses e programas educacionais em todo o estado de Pernambuco. O festival tem recebido artistas renomados, promovendo intercâmbio cultural e incentivando a educação musical.

“O Festival Virtuosi sempre celebrou o talento artístico de todo o mundo,” afirmou a cofundadora do Festival e pianista Ana Lúcia Altino. “Estamos honrados em receber Breanna Sinclairé, cujo talento, história e voz inspirarão e ressoarão com o público, enriquecendo o cenário cultural do Brasil.”

Embora seja uma celebração poderosa da música e da arte, a apresentação de Sinclairé em Recife também é reconhecida por sua importância como um exemplo de diplomacia cultural.

Sobre o Festival Virtuosi Rafael Garcia:

Estabelecido em 1998, o Festival Virtuosi Rafael Garcia é um dos principais eventos de música clássica do Brasil, destacando talentos nacionais e internacionais e promovendo a educação musical e a apreciação cultural. Para mais informações sobre o Festival Virtuosi e sua programação, visite https://www.festivalvirtuosi.com.br.

media contact:

David Perry & Associates, Inc

(415) 676-7007

news@davidperry.com

San Francisco’s Breanna Sinclairé Makes South American Debut at the Virtuosi Festival in Recife, Brazil December 14

Trailblazing Transgender soprano to showcase the diversity and artistry of American opera at the XXVI Virtuosi Rafael Garcia Festival

10 December 2024 – San Francisco, CA: Acclaimed operatic soprano Breanna Sinclairé, celebrated for her groundbreaking achievements and international performances, will make her highly anticipated South American debut at the XXVI Virtuosi Rafael Garcia Festival, December 11–15, 2024, in Recife, Brazil. Known for her historic career, powerful voice, and ability to connect with audiences across the globe, Sinclairé’s performance underscores the Virtuosi Festival’s commitment to cultural dialogue and musical excellence.

A Baltimore native and graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sinclairé made history as the first transgender woman to complete the institution’s prestigious opera program. In addition to her celebrated operatic roles in Carmen, The Magic Flute, L’enfant et les sortilèges, and West Side Story, Sinclairé has performed in major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Toronto captivating international audiences with her artistry. She has also appeared on U.S. national television, including CNN’s United Shades of America with W. Kamau Belland PBS’s national broadcast True Colors. Sinclairé was the first transgender singer to perform the U.S. National Anthem at a major league professional sporting event, for the Oakland As in 2015.

“Music transcends boundaries, offering us a universal language of expression and connection, said Sinclairé. “To perform at the Virtuosi Festival is not just an honor, but a dream realized—to bring my story, my voice, and my heart to Brazil. I am thrilled to share in the festival’s tradition of celebrating music as a force that unites us all.”

Founded in 1998, the Virtuosi Festival remains a cornerstone of Brazil’s classical music scene, featuring free concerts, masterclasses, and educational programs across Pernambuco. The festival has hosted renowned artists while nurturing cultural exchange and fostering musical education.

“The Virtuosi Festival has always celebrated artistic talent from around the globe,” said Festival co-founder and pianist Ana Lúcia Altino. We are honored to welcome Breanna Sinclairé, whose talent, story, and voice will inspire and resonate with audiences while enriching Brazil’s cultural landscape.”

While a powerful celebration of music and artistry, Sinclairé’s performance in Recife is also being recognized for its significance as a example of cultural diplomacy.

About the Virtuosi Rafael Garcia Festival:

The Virtuosi Rafael Garcia Festival, established in 1998, is one of Brazil’s premier classical music events, showcasing national and international talent while fostering music education and cultural appreciation. For more information about the Virtuosi Festival and its programming, please visit https://www.festivalvirtuosi.com.br

Invasion of the Daffodils

Dino Enrique Piacentini’s gorgeously written “Invasion of  the Daffodils” sucks in the reader like the carnivorous waters surrounding its fact-meets-fantasy island setting.  Lavishly and lustily lyrical, it’s a coming out and coming of age story tinged with pain, hyper realistic wit, and no shortage of compassionately cruel insight. It cuts and cures in equal measure. It’s difficult to characterize and impossible to put down. I devoured it in one sitting.  If it was a movie, “Daffodils” would be “The Summer of ‘42” meets “Pan’s Labyrinth” with a side of “Call Me By Your Name.” Mesmerizingly original.

— David Eugene Perry, award winning author of “Upon This Rock”

https://a.co/d/b2fmwFm

media contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com / 

New Books Reveal Shocking Details of the ‘Portuguese Dreyfus’ as Granddaughter Demands €50 Million and Confronts Government Antisemitism

18 November 2024 – Porto, Portugal: In France, Émile Zola famously penned “J’Accuse” calling out the infamously antisemitic “Dreyfus Case.” Now, two pillars of Porto’s Jewish Community — widely considered the strongest in Europe in cultural terms — have leveled similar and timely accusations in two new books.

“The Portuguese Dreyfus Case: A Scandal from 1937 Heard in the European Court of Human Rights in 2024,” alongside “The Plan: Jewish Life Threatened in Europe” uncover the systemic antisemitism that has plagued Portugal and Europe, exemplified by the 1937 persecution of Captain Arthur Carlos de Barros Basto and the 2022 persecution against his granddaughter, Isabel Barros Lopes, and the entire Jewish community he founded in the city of Oporto a century ago.

Often called the “Portuguese Dreyfus”, Captain Barros Basto was unjustly dismissed from the Portuguese army in 1937 for circumcising his young students who were descendants of forcibly-converted Jews in the 15th century. The case against Basto, although ultimately dismissed, began with anonymous letters that tried to besmirch his reputation with fake allegations of inappropriate sexual relations with young men. All of this took place during the early years of the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal.

Basto’s granddaughter, 71-year-old economist Isabel Barros Lopes, has been campaigning for decades for his posthumous reinstatement. She is Vice Presidente of the Oporto Jewish community whose first President was Basto. The Community, the strongest in Portugal, is now seeking €50 million in compensation from the Portuguese state, due to a new anti-Jewish persecution based again on slanderous anonymous letters in 2022 which targeted the organization itself and Barros Lopes.

Barros Lopes and the Jewish Community of Porto are calling out what they see as hate against the Jewish community on the part of the government headed by former Prime Minister António Costa. Costa resigned as Prime Minister of Portugal in November of 2023 amid a corruption investigation. He will be heading to Brussels this December — in just over two weeks — to take his seat as president of the European Counsel, the institution which sets the political priorities and policy directions of the European Union.

“Costa’s inactions about my grandfather and the recent action of his government against me and our Jewish community are rooted in deeply ingrained hate against the Jewish success” said Barros Lopes. “We already sent both cases to the European Court of Human Rights to hold the government accountable and the State. This isn’t just about my grandfather; it’s about the systemic prejudice that still thrives in Portugal today.”

In turn, Gabriel Senderowicz, the president of the Jewish Community of Porto, echoed her concerns.

“The refusal of Costa’s government to reinstate Captain Barros Basto and the political persecution against our Jewish community – using the political press and anonymous letters from convicts – speak volumes about Costa’s priorities and his government,” said Senderowicz. “The assumption that corruption exists when a Jewish community prospers, is very much based on and anchored in old antisemitic tropes which historically plagued Portugal.”

In March 2022, incited by unverified anonymous complaint, Lisbon police invaded the home of Isabel Barros Basto, and likewise raided Porto’s historic synagogue looking for proof of financial malfeasance and corruption.

“According to the warrants presented by the police, they were looking for ‘bags of money. “However, the only bags of money every found were those found in November 2023 in the office of then Prime Minister Costa’s own chief of staff,” says Senderowicz, alluding to the scandal which brought down Costa’s government.

Adding to the urgency, “The Plan: Jewish Life Threatened in Europe” contextualizes Captain Barros Basto’s plight within a broader history of antisemitism across Europe. The book highlights how a modern government continued to use legal and political tools to undermine a strong Jewish community.

“The war against the Jewish success isn’t just a relic of the past,” said Senderowiz. “Books like The Plan make it clear that the struggle for justice and equality is far from over. The Soviets annihilated the strongest Jewish communities with the same methods. The less relevant communities were kept alive to show tourists that there was no antisemitism. The result was the death of Judaism in the USSR.”

Despite parliamentary and military recommendations in 2012 and 2013 to reinstate Barros Basto as a colonel, the Portuguese government continues to delay. The campaign by Barros Lopes and Senderowicz, coupled with the Jewish Community of Porto’s advocacy, aims to not only restore the honor of the now deceased Portuguese officer, but also confront systemic prejudice and demand accountability.

“The Portuguese Dreyfus Case and The Plan are essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the ongoing challenges facing Jewish communities in Europe and the legacy of historical injustices,” Senderowicz sums up.

The Jewish Community of Porto works to promote Jewish religion and culture, to preserve Jewish heritage, combat antisemitism, and advocate for justice in Portugal and Europe. Through cultural, legal, and educational initiatives, the community seeks to honor the legacy of individuals like Captain Barros Basto and safeguard the future of Jewish life.

https://www.realclearreligion.org/2024/10/11/strongest_jewish_organization_from_a_cultural_standpoint_is_in_portugal_1064553.html

Links to both books are below:

The Plan!
https://www.amazon.com/Plan-Jewish-Life-Threatened-Europe-ebook/dp/B0D8TLZLFY?dplnkId=50da406a-0452-4e2d-bba1-bc39bf2e5b73&nodl=1

The Portuguese Dreyfus:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHYKN8FP?dplnkId=15682e0c-e3d5-49b1-81e8-486007c34251&nodl=1