The Casa Estação da Luz, located in the Olinda Historic Site, will host the debut of the Orquestra Sanfônica das Mulheres on Sunday (27), starting at 4:00 PM. The performance, which will have free admission and is scheduled to end at 8:00 PM, features eight instrumentalists in a formation consisting of saxophones, zabumba, triangle, and pandeiro. The venue will open at 3:00 PM, and the performance also marks the beginning of the commemorative program for the space's fifth anniversary.
Idealized by cultural producer Natália Reis and coordinated by saxophonist Terezinha do Acordeon, the orchestra emerged from a tribute to the women who perform forró during the Recife Forró Walk. The initiative, which initially had a sporadic nature, gained new contours with the gathering of instrumentalists from different backgrounds to form a group dedicated to northeastern music.
In addition to Terezinha do Acordeon, the formation includes Nilva do Acordeon, Flávia Soares, Verônica Sanfoneira, and Karol Maciel on the saxophones. Michelle Angela plays the zabumba, Angélica is responsible for the triangle, and Selminha plays the pandeiro.
According to Natália Reis, the creation of the group stems from the perception that the participation of women in the history of forró is extensive, although it is not always as visible when it comes to their role as instrumentalists.
"Forró has always had fundamental women, as interpreters, composers, and instrumentalists. However, the saxophone is still a territory where men are more prevalent. We want to show that there are many women playing, creating, and making this music happen," she says.
The repertoire prepared for the debut includes songs from different references of forró, including works by masters and mistresses of the genre. The aim is to put the traditional northeastern musical tradition in dialogue with the contemporary performance of women who keep these repertoires circulating.
The orchestra also seeks to present popular culture as a manifestation in constant transformation. The meeting of the instrumentalists brings together different generations and experiences, with the accordion as a central element of the formation.
"We are not just talking about memory. We are talking about a living culture that continues to be recreated by women. Tradition is not a static thing: it passes from one person to another, changes, gains new voices and continues to exist," says Natalia.
The initiative also aims to contribute to increasing the visibility of female instrumentalists and creating new references for girls and young people interested in pursuing professional careers in music. The presentation thus adds to a perspective of valuing popular culture and musical knowledge transmitted between generations.
The choice of Casa Estação da Luz to host the first performance of the Women's Accordion Orchestra is also related to the space's trajectory, which completes five years of activities. The commemorative program begins precisely with this Sunday's performance.
"It is very symbolic to debut the orchestra precisely at the Casa Estação da Luz. It is a house that has this vocation to receive Pernambuco culture, to create encounters and to look at our memory without forgetting the present," highlights Natalia.
Located on Rua Prudente de Moraes, in the Carmo neighborhood, the Casa Estação da Luz operates as a space for visual arts, music, literature, memory and discussions related to Northeastern culture. Under the patronage of Alceu Valença, the venue hosts exhibitions, concerts, courses, exhibitions and other cultural activities.
Services
Debut of the Women's Sanfônica Orchestra
Sunday, September 27
Starting from 16:00
Location:Casa Estação da Luz
Rua Prudente de Morais, 313, Carmo neighborhood
Olinda, Pernambuco