SOWING ART IN PARIS
Young Venezuelan who marks a milestone in Paris. Her story predates her potential talent and invades the hearts of classical music fans. She was considered a potential marvel at the baton in the La Maestra contest held in France. She has explosive energy, interpretive intensity in directing, and she looks lighthearted. It is how the famed Latin American and music director, Gladysmar Marcano, is shown.
The story of Gladysmar del Valle Vadel Marcano, better known as Glass Marcano is very unique and has captivated the hearts of Parisians. This Venezuelan girl from Yaracuy state (Venezuela) with 26 years old has sown her art in the French capital since she entered the first edition of the contest for women conductors called La Maestra.
This three-day-long contest was held at the Paris Philharmonic Concert Hall in mid-September 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic. In this competition, which brought together 12 candidates out of a total of 220 from 51 nationalities, a repertoire was required for the execution of outstanding works from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, as well as contemporary works to observe the versatility of women leaders of the baton.
Glass was not the winner of this contest, but she was the greatest teacher of the sympathy of the group of musicians led by her after receiving the orchestra award and the institutional support necessary to continue with her training.
From the beginning, this disciplined and talented conductor captured the attention of the founder of the Paris Mozart Orchestra and member of the competition jury, Claire Gibault, who invited her to participate in a series of concerts with the Paris-Mozart Orchestra. “She told me:” in September I’m going to do a concert with the Paris Orchestra at the Paris Philharmonic and I’m going to share it with you “and that filled my heart a lot”, confessed the passionate music director to a digital medium.
… When you have a motivation that is additional to the professional when it is from the heart, you want to take over the world: I’m going there, I’m going to stand on the podium and I don’t speak English or French, but come on, I do know can…”. Glass Marcano
JUMPING OBSTACLES
The national and international press plus the regulars of social networks echoed his story. Glass Marcano with determination participated in the La Maestra contest in France, jumping all the obstacles prevailing in Venezuela.
The faithful anecdote of her aroused the interest of an audience. Glass wanted to advance in her artistic profession and thereby help her family financially. While browsing the Internet, she came across information about the Contest aimed especially at women symphony orchestra conductors, however, there is the first obstacle and it was the registration, they needed 150 euros. At first, Marcano was discouraged, but then she looked for the solution, borrowing money.
OK! The first hurdle cleared, but now she would have to buy suitable clothing to present herself. Glass, who lived in the Venezuelan capital for her law studies at the Central University of Venezuela, decided to return to her Yaracuy state and earn that money at her family’s fruit store.
Between dreams and practices, she was already managing to attend the contest. Wow! Glass is how it is done. However, the pandemic arrived that she did not have and for the fourth time. Another obstacle was approaching, the cost of the plane ticket with the date already close.
She thus informed the organizers of the French competition who helped her fulfill her dream. A humanitarian flight was the destination to reach Europe and that same day of her arrival it was her participation in the competition that would lead her to direct her new story.
When Glass came to the concert hall to perform, the strategy was simple and consisted of only two pillars: fun and connection. “The fun” was always present at the time of directing. Her dedication and passion confirmed it. The second pillar “the connection” was also achieved even though she did not speak the native language or English however, she established that connection with the musicians and the audience present who gave her an ovation when coming down from the podium. “I can tell you that before leaving for my participation, the organizers of the contest told me that the public applauds the director when he enters, but does not applaud when he leaves. When I finished directing the masterpiece, the audience immediately applauded. That was very impressive to me. For that reason I raise the orchestra because thanks to the orchestra it was the applause and I had to thank them”. Glass explained to a digital press.
Glass Marcano currently represents the Latino and Afro-Caribbean communities. Her next goal is to direct with the French technique and add the Latin “flavor” to it. “I like to feel the music, to be musical, to be passionate, but the technique is important, and that is why I am in Paris”, she said in an interview with journalist Pía Castro.
A week after the contest Glass began to attend rehearsals, she saw master classes and continues with her academic training at the conservatory. By 2022, her participation in a festival in Belgium is confirmed and she will have a presentation in Barcelona (Spain).
There are many ways to interpret a masterpiece, but the goal of a conductor is to convince the orchestra that your version is the right one”. Glass Marcano
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