Brazilian Legend Gilberto Gil Sells Out April Show at the Chan Centre

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is thrilled to announce the long-awaited concert from Brazil's own living legend, Gilberto Gil, on Sunday, April 12 at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall is now SOLD OUT.

In this Vancouver appearance the lauded singer, guitarist and composer, with more than 50 albums and over five million records sold, will honour the father of bossa nova and his influential mentor, João Gilberto. Alongside reinterpretations of Gilberto's classic repertoire, Gil will perform his own original compositions as well as works of gifted musicians Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, Carlos Lyra and Caetano Veloso, as featured on the 2014 album Gilbertos Samba.

"We're delighted and not in the least surprised to find that Gilberto Gil has sold out the Chan Centre given the joyful and infectious rhythms of his music and the incredible warmth and poeticism he brings to the stage," says Joyce Hinton, Co-Managing Director of the Chan Centre. "Gil is beloved as an artist, but also admired as a dedicated activist who has helped foster greater equality and cultural appreciation throughout Brazil and the rest of the world."

Recognized internationally as a musical ambassador and treasured cultural icon of Brazil, Gil is an artist with one of the most prominent careers in both pop and world music. A master lyricist, his songwriting explores a variety of compelling issues such as inequality, culture, science, religion and other thought-provoking ideas. He is also known among artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, and others, as a leader of the '60s Brazilian Tropicália movement, an artistic genre that combined popular styles with the avant-garde. In its musical form, Tropicália uniquely weaved modern rock and folk styles with traditional samba, salsa, and bossa nova.

Gil is not only recognized for his tremendous impact on artistic life in Brazil, but also for his importance to political life. At the time that he rose to fame in the 1960's, Brazil was ruled by a military regime cruel to many forms of creative expression, and as such he was deemed a threat to society and forced into exile. The cultural visionary remained in London until 1972 when he returned to Brazil to pursue work in political advocacy. Gil's efforts led him to be named Minister of Culture to Brazil in 2003, a role that he held until 2007. Today he remains an acting UNESCO Artist for Peace, and he is also a recipient of the French Legion of Honor.

Balancing an active political career with one in music, Gil continued to develop his talent and passion for mixing genres, releasing a seemingly endless series of albums spanning multiple decades. Among these were Quanta Live (1999) and Eletracústico (2005), which received GRAMMY Awards for Best World Music Album and Best Contemporary World Music Album respectively, and As Canções De Eu, Tu, Eles (2001) and São João Vivo (2002), which were both awarded the Latin GRAMMY for Best Brazilian Roots / Regional Album. In 2005 he was the recipient of Sweden's Polar Music Prize. Gil's inspirational life story and cultural influence has also been the subject of documentary films including Viramundo (2013) and Tropicália (2012).

Chan Centre Connects Events - Chan Centre Connects is a series of ancillary events programmed in conjunction with Chan Centre Presents performances, exploring the role of arts and artists in society.

• Film Screening of Tropicália -- Apr 2 / 7pm @ The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St.) This 2012 documentary explores one of Brazil's most iconic cultural movements, featuring Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and others.
• Pre-Show Talk with Dr. Alessandra Santos -- April 12 / 6:15pm @ Royal Bank Cinema (Chan Centre). Pre-show talk about the historical context of Brazilian music focusing on bossa nova and Tropicália with UBC professor and author Dr. Alessandra Santos.

About the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC (chancentre.com) - Since 1997, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC has earned an international reputation for its striking design, stellar acoustics, and exceptional programming. Artists, critics, and patrons alike are unanimous in their praise of the facility, winning it a place among North America's premier performing arts venues. The Chan Centre boasts three unique venues: the superb Chan Shun Concert Hall, the dramatic Telus Studio Theatre, and the intimate Royal Bank Cinema. From classical, jazz, theatre, and opera to world music, the Chan Centre is a vital part of UBC campus life where artistic and academic disciplines merge to inspire new perspectives on life and culture. Past performers and guest speakers include: Wynton Marsalis, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Renée Fleming, Dan Savage, Yo-Yo Ma, Mariza, Sigur Rós, Mavis Staples, and Hugh Masekela.

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