The Mozart of the Andes | Philharmonia Britannica

Two much loved European classical masterpieces are complemented by a gracious and joyful recent discovery in the same classical style from the treasures of the National Archives of Bolivia. Pedro Ximénez Abril y Tirado (PXAT 1784-1856) was one of Latin America’s most successful and prolific composers of the early 19th century, known at the time as 'El sinfonista de los andes'. He occupied a prestigious position as director of music at Sucre Cathedral, the most important cultural and religious city of the newly created state of Bolivia. These Vespers would have been performed in the Cathedral by indigenous musicians on the feast of Corpus Christi.

This concert presents the world premiere of an original text edition of the Vespers specially commissioned for this concert, which is a co-production of Philharmonica Britannica and Hispanic early music ensmble El Parnaso Hyspano, whose founder director Rafael Montero (tenor) is a descendent of the indigenous people for whom this music was written.

Philharmonia Britannica, a classical symphony orchestra, was formed in 2007 by its musical director and conductor Peter Fender, with the aim of bringing high quality performances of the great music of the classical repertoire to as large and diverse an audience as possible.