Carlos Maza et l'énergie de l'homme libre

Frank Cassenti’s fascinating documentary highlights the life of Chilean pianist and composer Carlos Maza (whose Mapuche name is Newen Tahiel, which literally means “the energy of the free man”). We witness Maza evoke tender memories of his youth in Lautoru and the strong bond with his native people as he performs eleven of his 24 Mapuche preludes. Cassenti describes each prelude as “a story connected to the Latin American and Caribbean peoples. For Carlos Maza, these preludes take the listener on an imaginary journey through time and space.” Inspired by the rich history of his ancestors, the pianist’s poetic music honours the memory of the “people of the earth,” who never truly die, as their spirit lives on in the passionate melodies of this moving work.