Shelemay Sound Lab: Pantanal Sounds

Pantanal Sounds is a project emerging from an artistic and research mission to the Brazilian Pantanal conducted in 2023, supported by the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University.

The recital brings together works for cello and electronics performed by Brazilian cellist William Teixeira. The repertoire includes pieces written by José Henrique Padovani, Roberto Victório, Mariana Terena, and Hans Tutschku, exploring the encounter between experimental music, soundscape listening, and ecological reflection.

Drawing on field recordings and artistic impressions gathered during the expedition, the program reflects on the extraordinary sonic richness of the Pantanal—one of the world’s largest wetlands—while also addressing the growing environmental pressures that threaten this unique ecosystem. Through different compositional perspectives and the integration of acoustic performance with new technologies, the concert invites the audience to engage with the Pantanal not only as a geographic region, but as a living sonic environment whose preservation is inseparable from cultural and ecological awareness.

This event is supported by the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.