Pianist Aleyson Scopel to Make Carnegie Hall Debut

As Brazil readies to host two major international sports events in the next three years – the World Cup and the Olympics – New Yorkers have a number of opportunities to discover a number of contemporary Brazilian artists, including musicians.

The city is in for an extraordinary début this fall from a remarkable young Brazilian pianist lauded as one of the most distinguished music talents to emerge from Brazil in recent times and as a recognized celebrant of contemporary music. An honor alumnus of the New England Conservatory of Music, Mr. Scopel will make his New York City/Carnegie Hall debut at the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall in a solo performance to be held on Saturday, November 23rd at 2 pm.

A champion of contemporary Brazilian music, Mr. Scopel’s program will feature the world premiere of Cartas Celestes XV – Celestial Charts XV by renowned Brazilian composer Almeida Prado. Upon hearing Mr. Scopel’s rendering of the first volume of Cartas Celestes, the composer commented: “It came straight from heaven!” Prado would later dedicate to Mr. Scopel the fifteenth volume of the series.

Mr. Scopel, known for his percipient lyricism and discerning techniques, has won numerous piano competitions including the Nelson Freire International Competition and the Magda Tagliaferro Competition. (Mr. Freire himself will be in recital in New York three days earlier on Tuesday, November 20th at Alice Tully Hall.)

Mr. Scopel’s recital is centered on pieces from the mature styles of the respective composers, perhaps not what is usually expected in a début recital. But Mr. Scopel is partial to a more intellectual program than one weighted with virtuosic pieces. The two other works on the program besides that of Prado are longtime components of Mr. Scopel’s repertoire and ones to which he has a great deal of emotional attachment.