Groundbreaking Chilean ensemble Inti-Illimani at Edison Theatre Oct. 6

Inti-Illimani, the groundbreaking, eight-man Chilean ensemble that performs on 30 wind, string and percussion instruments, will make their St. Louis debut at Washington University in St. Louis.

The special, one-night-only concert begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, as part of the Edison Theatre OVATIONS! Series.

Edison Theatre is located in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are $30; $25 for seniors and Washington University faculty and staff; and $18 for students and children. Tickets are available at the Edison Theatre Box Office and through all MetroTix outlets.

For more information, call (314) 935-6543 or visit edisontheatre.wustl.edu

Named for a mountain in the Bolivian Andes, Inti-Illimani (literally “son of the Illimani”) was formed in 1967 when its members met as engineering students at Santiago Technical University. Inspired by Andean folk music, the group quickly rose to the forefront of Latin American’s nueva canción movement, which combined politically progressive lyrics with traditional forms and instrumentation from Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Argentina.

In 1973, Inti-Illimani was touring abroad when Chilean President Salvador Allende was deposed by dictator Augusto Pinochet. Stranded without homeland or passports — and hearing reports of government reprisals against politically active artists — the group settled in Italy, yet continued to support Chilean democracy internationally and to distribute bootleg copies of their music at home.

In 1988 democratic reforms marked the beginning-of-the-end of Pinochet’s regime. At the same time, the governmental ban against Inti-Illimani was finally lifted and in September of that year they toured Chile for the first time since the coup. In 1990 the group returned home permanently and recently have even enjoyed official support as ambassadors of Chilean culture.

Over the years Inti-Illimani has recorded more than 40 albums, including most recently Lugares Comunes (2003), Viva Italia (2004) and Inti-Quila, Música en la Memoria (2005). Pequeño Mundo (2006), the group’s latest release, continues their exploration of Latin American and Afro-Latino sounds while also including Italian influences and their first foray into jazz-flavored composition.

Inti-Illimani continues to tour widely and has performed with some the world’s most renowned artists, including Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Pete Seeger, Wynton Marsalis, John Williams and Paco Peña.

Their many honors include the 1990 Lion of Venice, a 1997 Human Rights Award from the University of California—Berkeley and a “best soundtrack” nomination from the British Academy of Music for the film The Flight of the Condor (1982).

Edison Theatre

Edison Theatre’s OVATIONS! Series serves both Washington University and the St. Louis community by providing the highest caliber national and international artists in music, dance and theater, performing new works as well as innovative interpretations of classical material not otherwise seen in St. Louis. Focusing on presentations that are interdisciplinary, multicultural and/or experimental, Edison Theatre presents work intended to challenge, educate and inspire.

Edison Theatre programs are made possible with support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; the Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis; and the Arts & Education Council of Greater St. Louis.