Programs and Events

December 3, 2003

Harpsichord and piano recital at Ambassador Watt's residence

A special night of music, with a unique twist, was enjoyed at the residence of Ambassador Watt. A recital in honor of Panama's centennial celebration, titled "From Colony to Republic: A Transamerican Musical Journey," was performed by the husband and wife team of Daniel Rieppel and Julieta Alvarado. While Dr. Rieppel performed his portion of the recital on the piano, Ms. Alvarado performed hers on a Flemish harpsicord.

Ms. Alvarado, a native of Panama now living with her husband in Minnesota, has focused much of her career as a musician on the study and performance of manuscripts of colonial keyboard music in Latin America and the study of historical colonial keyboard instruments. This evening she performed colonial-era harpsichord music composed by Johann Jacob Froberger, George Frideric Handel, Domenico Scarlatti and music she discovered during her work with the Chiquitos Archives in Concepción, Bolivia.

Dr. Rieppel's selection was more modern. He performed music composed in the 20th century, including pieces by Narciso Garay, Aaron Copland, Charles Ives and Manuel de Falla.

While Ms. Alvarado has traveled across Europe as well as Latin America to give recitals and present lectures, she was enormously proud to be back in her home country to perform for a Panamanian and American audience.