Over the course of their legendary careers, Brazilian-born brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad set the standard for innovation, ingenuity, and expression with the guitar. Their performances feature a compelling blend of musical styles, periods, and cultures including folk, jazz, Latin, and transcriptions of some of the greatest works from the classical music canon. As they prepare to conclude 60 years of international touring, the duo stops at The Shedd Institute as a part of their Farewell Tour for a final performance to say farewell and to share with us their magnificent music-making one last time.
Brazilian-born brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad have set the benchmark for all other guitarists by creating a new standard of guitar innovation, ingenuity and expression. Their exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble playing come from both a family rich in Brazilian musical tradition and from studies with the guitar and lutenist Monina Távora (1921-2011), a disciple of Andrés Segovia. In addition to setting new performance standards, the Assads have played a major role in creating and introducing new music for two guitars. Their virtuosity has inspired a wide range of composers to write for them including Astor Piazzolla, Terry Riley, Radamés Gnattali, Francisco Mignone, Edino Krieger, Roland Dyens, Dusan Bogdanovic, Nikita Koshkin, Marlos Nobre, and Jorge Morel.
Sérgio is adding to their repertoire by composing music for the duo and for various musical partners both with Symphony Orchestra and in recitals. They have worked extensively with such renowned artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Fernando Suarez Paz, Paquito D’Rivera, Gidon Kremer, Dawn Upshaw and, more recently, Avi Avital.
The Assads began playing the guitar together at an early age and went on to study for seven years with Dona Monina. Their international career began with a major prize at the 1979 Young Artists Competition in Bratislava. Odair is based in Brussels. For 27 years, he was in charge of the guitar class of the Mons Royal Conservatory in Belgium. Sérgio resides in Chicago. He was for several years on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory.
The Assad’s repertoire includes original music composed by Sérgio Assad and his re-workings of folk and jazz music as well as Latin music of almost every style. Their standard classical repertoire includes transcriptions of the great Baroque keyboard literature of Bach, Rameau and Scarlatti and adaptations of works by such diverse figures as Gershwin, Ginastera and Debussy. Their touring programs are always a compelling blend of styles, periods and cultures.