Men with guitars

Mention the Dream Team and many Americans think of the U.S. men’s basketball team, which won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In Brazil, however, the Dream Team isn’t comprised of basketball superstars like Michael Jordan but rather four classical guitarists, who dazzle audiences around the globe with their musical dexterity. The Brazilian Guitar Quartet is considered one of the world’s most sought-after guitar ensembles. The group performs transcriptions of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Brazilian composers on six-string and eight-string guitars. Developed by BGQ member Paul Galbraith, the eight-string guitar is supported by a metal endpin, much like a cello, and it rests on a wooden resonance box. The quartet’s first album, Essência do Brasil, focused on four of Brazil’s most important composers such as Antônio Carlos Gomes and Heitor Villa-Lobos. The CD reached the Top 10 of the classical charts in Billboard magazine and made the “Best Recordings of 1999” list in the Audiophile Audition Web magazine. Their next CD, Bach: Four Suites for Orchestra also received similar praise. The group’s latest CD, Encantamento, explores works by other Brazilian composers, including Henrique Oswald, Cláudio Santoro and Ronaldo Miranda. The quartet performs 7:30 p.m. July 24 as part of Artown and the Beethoven at Bartley series. The free concert takes place at the Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road. Call 322-1538 or visit www.renoisartown.com.