“For Gláucia da Silva, a young classical musician, the 30-minute hike from the base of the favela to her mother’s house follows a steep incline and a walkway lined with silver-dollar-sized bullet holes,” writes Walter Thompson-Hernández in Saturday’s (7/27) New York Times. “ ‘There’s a lot of violence here [in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, areas inhabited by the poor] and I’m worried that I may get caught up in it,’ Ms. da Silva, 19, said while practicing Mozart’s third violin concerto in her room…. Ms. da Silva plays in a quartet called Orquestra de Rua (Orchestra of the Street), alongside other classical musicians from Rio’s favelas…. In 20 minutes, playing a medley of classical and pop hits, they were able to earn enough money for [a meal], and bring some extra income home for their families…. Juliane Nascimento de Souza, 21, comes from a musical family…. ‘People are always shocked that I’m a classical musician because most people here play samba,’ Ms. de Souza said. ‘Nobody expects a black, poor woman to play the violin.’… Carlos Vainer, an urban planning professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal University [says] … ‘Groups like the Orquestra da Rua are showing us that music and the arts need to be available to everyone.’ ”
Posted July 31, 2019
