Quimantu were formed in 1981 by the Chilean musician and composer Mauricio Venegas-Astorga and since then have gained a reputation as one of Britain’s finest South American bands. Over the past two decades Quimantu has developed a unique repertoire, which gives audiences a fascinating overview of the diversity of South American music and an insight into its musical connections with Africa, Europe and beyond. From the haunting melodies of Andean, Celtic and Thai airs to the rhythms of Cuban Son and Northumbrian dances, the band is inspired by a desire to discover the music of the past and the sound of the future. The group has blossomed out of the very particular musical environment that exists in the UK, especially in London, an environment which has afforded Quimantu the opportunity to collaborate with leading musicians from almost every genre imaginable, from Western Classical to Indian Classical, African to traditional English Folk. The result is a powerful musical message, which is a refreshing mix full of life and honesty that has brought audiences to their feet to dance in venues across the UK, Europe and Chile.

CONCERTS, TOURING & FESTIVALS
Highlights include the sell-out 2003 UK tour with special guest, international guitarist John Williams and the 2004 tour to Chile, which included Illapu’s Eric Maluenda and John Williams as guest artists. Following the highly successful PRS Foundation funded 2003 tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Quimantu were invited to perform at the Skye World Music Festival 2005. Regular concerts in London, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall (May 2004) have also included The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall and Purcell Room, the Barbican Hall and the London Palladium. Quimantu has also appeared abroad at prestigious events such as the Rose of Tralee and Letterkenny International Festivals in Eire and the International Festival of Music and Dance in Cyprus. UK festival appearances have included Sidmouth, Larmer Tree, Broadstairs and Coin Street.

ALBUMS, RECORDINGS & FILM
Quimantu has released 11 commercial albums, the latest being “Caral” – “a recording with a magnificent sound, that makes the music jump straight out of the speakers. Venegas has created a beautiful album. Highly recommended.” (Classical Guitar Magazine). “Caral” marks a watershed in the development of Quimantu in recent years, new compositions from Venegas, who is a master of melody and songwriting, are interspersed with traditional tunes from England and Thailand and evocative arrangements of songs by two of South America’s classic composers – Violeta Parra and Carlos Gardel.

The group has also recorded the music for a number of feature films. Quimantu provided much of the ethnic instrumentation for the 80’s group “Incantation” culminating in the recording of the music for the film “The Mission”. As well as their work with Enio Morricone on “The Mission” the group can be heard on “Ladybird, Ladybird”, “Hostage”, “The Honorary Consul” and “Priest”. Television and radio work has included the recording and broadcast of a live concert at the Ashcroft Theatre by BBC Radio 2, appearances and interviews for the Radio 3 programmes “Ritmo” and “In Tune” and BBC Television’s music education programme “Music Makers”. Quimantu also played an integral role in the music for the oratorio “The Plague and the Moonflower” by Richard Harvey and Ralph Steadman, broadcast on BBC2 and featuring Ben Kingsley and Ian Holm.

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