Project Takes Classical Music to Bus Terminals, Schools and Cemeteries of São Paulo

07/01/2015 - 09h40

It's noon at Dom Pedro Park bus terminal 2, in downtown São Paulo. Amid the noise of the buses' engines and the hustle and bustle of passengers, a singer sings an excerpt from the Opera "Carmen" by Georges Bizet.

"Love is a rebellious bird that no one can trap", she sings in French, accompanied by keyboard, violin, flute and a ten-voice chorus. All accommodated in one of the terminal's platforms.

That is how the program "Municipal na Cidade" started, right after being launched by the city's administration on Tuesday (30). The project takes ballet and classical music - performed by the permanent Municipal Theatre groups - to several public spaces of the city.

"I've never expected to see one of these things here. It's the first time I've seen a ballet, I only knew it from TV. I was stressed with work, problem in the family, but it calmed me down, even if only for a few minutes, "said driver José Carlos de Barros, 60.

In addition to the bus terminals, presentations will be held in schools, churches and even cemeteries. There will also be special performances at the theatre itself for public school teachers and bus drivers.

Maestro John Neschling, artistic director of the Municipal Theatre of São Paulo, said the goal is to bring the theatre close to a population that doesn't know about our existence".

There will be 138 free performances until December 19. The groups that participate in the program are: Municipal Symphony Orchestra, City Ballet, Lyric Choir, Quartet of the City of São Paulo, Choir Paulistano Mário de Andrade and Experimental Repertory Orchestra.

"It's a way to democratize access to erudite culture. Sometimes people say they don't like classical music, but they never heard it because they never had a chance to, "said Mayor Fernando Haddad (PT).

Ballerina Fernanda Bueno, 31, a member of the City Ballet who performed last Tuesday (30), said she had enjoyed the experience of dancing next to the passengers of the terminal. "Here we're close; we can look into people's eyes and see their smiles."

Secretary of Transportation, Jilmar Tatto, said he is excited about the program. "Music was the missing piece to the transport in the city of São Paulo," he said.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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