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The concert marks the beginning of guest composer Arthur Barbosa’s residency, a project\u00a0initiated\u00a0by Guilherme Leal\u00a0Rodrigues, a doctoral candidate and graduate associate conductor of the University Philharmonia.\u00a0Rodrigues\u00a0also serves as the music director of the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras.\u00a0(College of Music)\t\t<\/p>\n
The University Philharmonia, a premier ensemble within the Florida State University College of Music<\/a>, will perform the U.S. premiere of Arthur Barbosa\u2019s \u201cVariations in Search of a Theme by Matos Rodr\u00edguez.\u201d<\/p>\n The concert is free and open to the public and will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Opperman Music Hall.<\/p>\n The concert marks the beginning of guest composer Barbosa\u2019s residency, a project\u00a0initiated\u00a0by Guilherme Leal\u00a0Rodrigues, a doctoral candidate and graduate associate conductor of the University Philharmonia.\u00a0Rodrigues\u00a0also serves as the music director of the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is such a pleasure to welcome advanced graduate students like Guilherme who can contribute to the rich cultural life of our campus and community,\u201d said Alexander Jim\u00e9nez, professor of conducting and director of orchestras. \u201cIt is also tremendous to work at an institution like the College of Music that offers students a wide range of opportunities to refine and expand their craft in creative ways.\u201d<\/p>\n The performance serves as the culmination of\u00a0Rodrigues\u2019\u00a0doctoral thesis\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the first in-depth research and performance analysis of the iconic tango \u201cLa\u00a0Cumparsita\u201d conducted in the United States.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The University Philharmonia, a premier ensemble within the Florida State University College of Music, will perform the U.S. premiere of Arthur Barbosa\u2019s \u201cVariations in Search of a Theme by Matos Rodr\u00edguez.\u201d (College of Music)The performance serves as the culmination of\u00a0Rodrigues\u2019\u00a0doctoral thesis\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the first in-depth research and performance analysis of the iconic tango \u201cLa\u00a0Cumparsita\u201d conducted in the United States.\u00a0(College of Music)<\/p>\n \u201cBringing \u2018La\u00a0Cumparsita\u2019 to life in the United States is both an academic and personal milestone for me,\u201d\u00a0Rodrigues said. \u201cThis tango carries the musical soul of my home region, and having the opportunity to premiere it here allows me to share a piece of that heritage with a new audience.\u201d<\/p>\n Joining the Philharmonia is Molly Reid, a doctoral candidate and winner of the 2025 FSU College of Music Doctoral Concerto Competition. Reid is also a recipient of the P.E.O. Scholar Award and an experienced international performer.<\/p>\n The repertoire bridges classical tradition with contemporary innovation, featuring:<\/p>\n Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:\u00a0Overture to \u201cIdomeneo\u201d \u2013 A dramatic, sonata-form opening capturing the turmoil of the King of Crete. Arthur Barbosa:\u00a0\u201cVariations in Search of a Theme by Matos\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez\u201d (U.S. Premiere) \u2013 Featuring pianist Molly Reid. This \u201cmusical archaeology\u201d flips the traditional variation structure; rather than moving away from a theme, the music gradually uncovers the recognizable fragments of \u201cLa\u00a0Cumparsita.\u201d Howard Hanson:\u00a0Symphony No. 2, Op. 30 \u201cRomantic\u201d \u2013 A lush work that influenced Hollywood scores, including the film \u201cAlien\u201d and the works of John Williams. <\/p>\n The celebration of Brazilian music continues at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. The Tallahassee Youth Orchestra will present \u201cBrazil in Sound: Tropical Imaginations,\u201d featuring three world premieres by living Brazilian composers Bianca Do Prado, Paloma Pitaya and Arthur Barbosa.\u00a0This is a ticketed event<\/a>.<\/p>\n