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Sergio and Odair Assads

The Brazilian-born brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad are today's preeminent guitar duo. Their exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble playing are the result of the unique closeness of their musical upbringing. In addition to setting new performance standards, the Assads have also played a major role in reviving contemporary music for guitar duo. Their virtuosity has inspired a wide range of composers to write works for them: Astor Piazzolla, Terry Riley, Radamés Gnatalli, Marlos Nobre, Nikita Koshin, Roland Dyens, Dusan Bogdanovic, Jorge Morel, Edino Kreiger and Francisco Mignone. They have also been sought after as collaborators by such artists as Gidon Kremer, Yo-Yo Ma, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Dawn Upshaw.

The Assads began playing the guitar together at an early age and went on to study for seven years with classical guitarist and lutenist Monina Távora, a disciple of Andrés Segovia. Their international career began with a major prize at the 1979 young artists competition in Bratislava. Now based in Brussels and in Chicago (where Sérgio teaches at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts), they continue to perform regularly in Europe and Japan as well as in Brazil.

Their repertoire, in addition to the pieces composed for them, includes original music by Sérgio Assad; transcriptions of the great Baroque keyboard literature of Bach, Couperin, Rameau and Scarlatti; and adaptations of works by such diverse figures as Gershwin, Ginastera and Milhaud. Their programs are always a compelling blend of styles, periods and cultures.

The Assads have also recorded widely, primarily for the Nonesuch and GHA labels. In 2001 Nonesuch released "Sérgio and Odair Assad Play Piazzolla," which was awarded a Latin Grammy in September 2002. Other recent duo CDs include an album of Baroque works and "Saga dos Migrantes" for Nonesuch. They have recorded Piazzolla discs with Gidon Kremer (Nonesuch) and Yo-Yo Ma (Sony Classical), the latter a Grammy winner in 1998. A Nonesuch collaboration with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg in 2000 featured a collection of pieces based on traditional and Gypsy folk tunes from around the world. Since their recording the Assads and Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg have made three highly successful tours of the United States, displaying a unique chemistry, an amusing interplay and their stunning virtuosity.

In January 2003 the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Music Director Andreas Delfs will premiere a triple concerto written by Sérgio for the trio. The Seattle Symphony and Gerard Schwarz will perform it later in the season. Other highlights of 2002-03 include an 18-city tour as soloists with the Orquestra de São Paolo, John Neshling conducting. The duo will perform the Nobre and the Rodrigo concertos for two guitars on the tour.

The Assad Brothers have already collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma on his next recording, a CD that features many of the most revered artists from Brazil. Sérgio arranged several of the works on the disc. In the 2003-04 season, the Assads will perform with Mr. Ma at several summer festivals in the United States, followed by performances in Europe and Japan. In September 2003 they will appear along with Mr. Ma to participate in the opening of Carnegie's Zankel Hall. Future plans include a tour by the Assad Family - featuring Sérgio and Odair's parents, sister Badi, and daughters Clarice and Camile - that features Brazilian folk music, known as "Chorinho." A documentary about the Assad family's talents has been featured on Brazilian television.