Guitar Player recently spoke with guitar legend Steve Vai about his recent experience at Rock In Rio with 60-piece Brazilian orchestra Camerata Florianópolis for 90,000 festival attendees. Following is an excerpt from the story.

For Rock in Rio Brazil, Vai was joined by the versatile Camerata Florianópolis, under the direction of Maestro Jeferson Della Rocca, who also founded the group.  In its 22nd concert season, the orchestra known for its symphonic work is considered among the most important performing groups in Brazil.  In addition to the success achieved in several Brazilian states, the orchestra has achieved great recognition through tours of France, Spain, Germany and Italy.

“For me, performing in Rio de Janeiro at Rock in Rio 2015 with the Camerata Florianópolis was a career highlight,” Vai says. “Feeling the intensity of the orchestra that was holding me up, the night sky, the notes under my fingers and in my mind’s ear, and the aliveness of presence of the 90,000 people and their collective energy, all came together beyond my expectations.  It was like standing tippy-toe at the top of Mt. Everest and sharing my secrets with the vastness.”

Camerata Florianópolis maestro Jeferson Della Rocca added, “During the last song [‘For the Love of God’], the audience began to sing in chorus to the melody.  It gave us chills from head to toe to see nearly 100,000 people singing. Steve looked at me, and I looked at him. It was amazing.”

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