Pedro Ximenez Abrill Tirado – Quartetto Concertante no.1 Op. 55  (Early 19th century)

The centerpiece of this program is the Quartetto Concertante, op 55, by Pedro Ximenez Abrill Tirado (1784-1856), the most prolific South American composer of the first half of the 19th century. Ximenez, born in Peru during the independence movement that led to the country’s founding, hosted a famous salon at his home that was celebrated by artists and revolutionaries alike. At the invitation of the Bolivian president in 1833, Ximenez became Maestro de Capilla in Sucre, the Bolivian capital, a post he held until his death. The first half of the program includes favorites from Ximenez’s European contemporaries, Boccherini, Haydn, and Mozart.