5:15-6:15pm Docents available to discuss the site at the Marion Davies Guest House
6:30-8:30pm Concert

Uruguayan pianist Polly Ferman performs compositions by Ernesto Lecuona (Cuba), Astor Piazzolla (Argentina) and Mattos Rodriguez (Uruguay) among others in this musical journey through Latin America. Ferman captivates as one of the leading interpreters of the classical music repertoire of Latin America, and is recognized by The Japan Times as a 'Musical Ambassador of the Americas.'

Folkloric traditions have inspired composers such as Johannes Brahms (Hungarian Dances), Anton Dvorak (Slavonic Dances), Edward Grieg (Norwegian Dances) and Enrique Granados (Spanish Dances). In Latin America, the waltz, tango, milonga, samba, and other dances were brought to the piano by such creators as Ernesto Lecuona, Ernesto Nazareth, and Daniel Binelli. Ferman has made a special study of the influence of dance traditions in her classical interpretations of Habaneras, Milongas & Tangos.

Ferman's extensive tours as a soloist have included performances with the Symphonies of San Francisco, Colorado, Vancouver, and Indianapolis, as well as the Tokyo Philharmonic, Kharkov Philharmonic Orchestra (Ukraine), Philippines Philharmonic, Sâo Paulo State Symphony., the National Symphony of Argentina and Camerata Romeu in Cuba, in addition to recitals at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Tokyo’s Suntory and Takemitsu Halls, Virginia’s Wolf Trap, London’s St. Martin in the Fields, Koncert Halle of Munich, and the Buenos Aires Teatro Colon. Ferman was the only soloist selected to play at the Pan American Games of 1992, where she performed Villa-Lobos’ Momo Precoce for piano and orchestra with the Indianapolis Symphony. Her performances were featured in a 2005 nationally televised PBS documentary special: Tango the Spirit of Argentina and in the Brazilian movie A Viuva da Rua Siria.

Her collaborations include duo performances with guitarist Eduardo Isaac and bandoneonist Daniel Binelli, and performances as guest artist in Binelli's quintet, Tango Metropolis and with the Orquestango project, with which she has toured extensively in Europe, Japan, Australia and the U.S. She is also Music Director and pianist for Leading Ladies of Tango, the first all-female tango music and dance show. She created, directs and performs as pianist in GlamourTango, a musical celebrating women in tango with an all female cast of musicians and dancers. glamourtango.com

Ferman's numerous recordings constitute one of the world’s most extensive collections of Latin American repertoire, including such titles as Argentine Piano Music, Waltzes of the Americas, Habaneras, Milongas and Tangos, discs devoted to the music of Nazareth, Lecuona and Ariel Ramirez and collaborations with Daniel Binelli in Images of Buenos Aires, and Orquestango 1 & 2, Tango Metropolis and New Tango Vision with Binelli and Eduardo Isaac, which are available on Music Masters, Musical Heritage Society, PAMAR, Talent Romeo Records, EPSA Music, Sondor and New Vision.

Polly Ferman began her musical studies at the age of three in her native Uruguay, giving her first recital at seven and winning the Jeunesses Musicales Competition at the age of nine. She went on to attend the J.S. Bach Conservatory as a pupil of Santiago Baranda Reyes. Later she studied with Celia Bronstein in Buenos Aires and Eugene List and William Daghlian in New York City. Visit her online at pollyferman.net.

She is the founder and Artistic Director of New York-based PAMAR (Pan American Musical Art Research, Inc.- pamar.org), a nonprofit organization founded in 1984 in New York City whose purpose is to promote better understanding among the various countries and cultures of the Americas. She is also the Producer and Director of the organization’s Latin American Cultural Week in New York, which features music, dance, literature, visual arts, theater and film of and by Latin American artists in more than two dozen of New York’s leading cultural institutions. More information about it can be found online.

This evening's concert is supported by the Consulate General of Uruguay/Enrique Loedel, Juarez & Associates/ Nick & Betty Juarez,  Pan American Musical Art Research, Inc., (PAMAR), Classical Latin Productions/Humberto Capiro.

Stop by early for information on the Beach House by docents from the Santa Monica Conservancy.

Tickets are free but space is limited and reservations are required. If you would like to attend, please reserve online. Please plan to arrive by 6:15pm to retain your reservation. Late seating, even for reservation-holders, is not guaranteed. To adjust or cancel your reservation for this event, email beachhouse@smgov.net. We appreciate your keeping in touch!

Directions: The Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90402 on the west side of Pacific Coast Highway, a half mile north of the California Incline and a half mile south of Chautauqua Blvd. Plenty of public parking is available - enter off PCH at the Beach House Way traffic light. The facility is easily accessible by foot or bike from the beach bike path, although the Beach closes at sunset. There is ample bike parking at racks throughout the site - remember to bring your own lock.

Parking: For weekday evening Beach=Culture events October - April starting at 5pm, there is a special $5 parking charge at the park and pay machines available in three areas of the ACBH parking lot. Machines take cards and cash and this special rate is only for Beach=Culture attendees; please inform the attendant you are here for Beach=Culture. For regular fees and parking lot hours, please check the website for details.

Other events: To view & make reservations for future free Beach=Culture events, check http://annenbergbeachhouse.com/beachculture.

General Info: For hours, events and more, visit http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com, or call 310-458-4904. Back on the Beach Café hours are subject to change but generally close by 3pm on winter weekdays - call ahead.