Ruim veertig jaar geleden, in 1967, werd Inti-Illimani opgericht door studenten van de universiteit van Santiago. Tijdens een tour buiten Chili kwam Pinochet aan de macht en besloot de politiek-kritische formatie wijselijk zich in Italië te vestigen. Verscheidene nueva canción-artiesten waren namelijk al omgebracht door het regime en zelfs instrumenten die werden geassocieerd met de stroming werden door de dictatuur verboden. In 1988 keerde de band terug naar Chili en was zeer actief in het succesvol tegenwerken van het referendum dat Pinochet langer aan de macht zou houden. Het maakte Inti-Illimani tot de onofficiele ambassadeurs van Chileense muziek en sterke opponenten van de Chileense dictatuur. Tijdens de fameuze Amnesty International Tour in 1988 speelden de leden samen met Sting, Peter Gabriel en Bruce Springsteen. Intussen zijn drie van de acht leden vervangen door muzikanten die in die roerige tijd nog niet geboren waren en heeft de band al zo'n slordige veertig platen uitgebracht. De muzikale creolisatie van Andes-folk, Afro-Cubaanse, Peruaanse en Westerse elementen swingt nog steeds aan alle kanten.
LINE UP • Horacio Durán • Horacio Salinas • José Seves • Jorge Ball • Fernando Julio • Camilo Salinas • Danilo Donoso •
INTI-ILLIMANI
“WE ARE A GROUP WHO TRAVELS IN LOVE SEARCHING IN THE FANTASTIC MUSICAL HERITAGE OF OUR CONTINENT AND IN THE CRYSTAL WATERS OF THE POPULAR TRADITION OF THE WORLD”.
The musical traditions of Chile’s Andes Mountains are resurrected through the vocal harmonies and virtuoso musicianship of Inti-Illimani. Although the group continues to be rooted in venerable sounds, its multicultural approach adds a new dimension to its music. Formed by students at the Technical University of Santiago, Chile, in 1967, the group’s name translates as Sun of the Illimani, the mountain that overlooks the city of La Paz, Bolivia. During the 1970’s Inti-Illimani became leaders of the folkloric, activist Nueva Canción (new song) movement. Their outspoken lyrics made them targets of Chile’s political oppression, and they were exiled from their homeland from 1973 to 1988. Although it was based in Rome for that time, the band toured practically non-stop and spread the musical message throughout the world.
In addition to performing with such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Pete Seeger, Mikis Theodorakis, Mercedes Sosa, John Williams, Paco Peña and Silvio Rodriguez, Inti-Illimani participated in the Amnesty International tour of 1988 and appeared with Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman and Peter Gabriel.
Since returning to Chile that same year, Inti-Illimani has remained among the country’s best-regarded performers, continuing with their extensive touring which in 33 years of existence has taken them to over 40 different countries performing 110 concerts in 1999 alone. The group was honoured with a Lion of Venice in 1990 and a Human Rights award from U.C. Berkley in 1997, they were also nominated for a British Academy of Music Award in the soundtrack category for the 1982 BBC film ‘Flight of the Condor’.
