Release date:  October 24, 2012

Violist Karen Bentley Pollick performs Estadio: a lush, introspective elegy by young composer Greg Simon.

On September 15, 1973, Chilean songwriter and activist Victor Jara was murdered by the military forces who, days earlier, had overthrown Salvador Allende’s Popular Unity government. His last days were spent in captivity; along with thousands of innocent Chileans, he was detained by the military junta in Estadio Chile, the national stadium. The details of his death aren’t clear, but what is known is that even in his last days he was sketching for a new song, which he had named after the stadium which would hold him until his death.

Estadio was written in memory of Victor Jara, one of my most important and personal musical heroes. Its main themes are drawn from two of my most beloved of his songs, “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz” and “El Alma Llena de Banderas.” Like his last work, it is named after the stadium in which he spent his final days.

Estadio was written for Andrew Krimm, during a residency at the Brevard Music Center.

Recorded at Metropolitan State College Studio in Denver, Colorado on May 24, 2012

Sam McGuire, Engineer

Cover photo:  Karen Bentley Pollick

Graphics: Greg Simon

Viola by William Whedbee, 1987