Sphinx Virtuosi
Latin Voyages: Viajes Latinos

Sphinx Virtuosi, one of the nation’s most dynamic professional orchestras, consists of eighteen classical soloists. The musicians are alumni of Detroit’s internationally acclaimed Sphinx Competition, which provides educational and performance opportunities to Black and Latino musicians. The orchestra’s Carnegie Hall premiere earned rave reviews. The performance was “first-rate in every way,” writes a New York Times critic.

Catalyst Quartet, whose members perform as a chamber ensemble and as principal musicians in Sphinx Virtuosi, made its central Pennsylvania debut last season as part of a residency at Penn State.

Members of Sphinx Virtuosi have performed as soloists with America’s major ensembles, including New York Philharmonic and the symphony orchestras of Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. Members also hold professional orchestral positions. Several players have been named laureates of other prestigious competitions, including the Queen Elisabeth and Yehudi Menuhin.

Latin Voyages: Viajes Latinos, the ensemble’s fall 2016 tour, takes audiences on a journey that includes zesty Argentine tango, nocturnal images of Mexico, and a tribute to the great Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. The program invites listeners to explore the great palette of the string medium through the prism of celebrated and lesser-known composers. The music, which celebrates the intricate mosaic of sounds and colors of the diverse Latin heritage, includes works by Alberto Williams, Javier Álvarez, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Cesar Espejo, Osvaldo Golijov, Alberto Ginastera, and, of course, Piazzolla.