Sergio & Odair Assad

The Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts is honored to welcome back Sérgio and Odair Assad to San Francisco. Widely recognized as the most celebrated guitar duo of their generation, the Brazilian-born brothers have redefined the art of the classical guitar duo through decades of collaboration. Their inherent synchronicity, expressive depth, and imaginative programming have inspired audiences and guitarists around the globe, setting a standard that remains unmatched.

Hailed by The Washington Post as “the best two-guitar team in existence” and praised by The New York Times for producing “a supple, flawless unified sound,” the Assad Brothers have captivated listeners with performances that critics often describe as sounding like “one giant guitar with expanded possibilities.” Their artistry combines virtuosity with deep musicality, resulting in concerts that are both revelatory and unforgettable.

Sérgio and Odair’s impact extends far beyond the concert stage. They have premiered and inspired works by leading composers such as Astor Piazzolla, Terry Riley, Roland Dyens, Nikita Koshkin, Jorge Morel, and Radamés Gnattali, while Sérgio himself has contributed extensively to the duo’s repertoire as a composer and arranger. Their collaborations have included projects with Yo-Yo Ma, Paquito D’Rivera, Gidon Kremer, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and Dawn Upshaw, as well as tours and recordings that have earned Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.

From their early beginnings in Brazil to celebrated appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the Assad Brothers have established themselves as true innovators. Their touring programs blend folk, jazz, Latin music, and classical repertoire with seamless artistry, while their recordings on labels such as Nonesuch and GHA have become benchmarks in the guitar world.

This concert offers Bay Area audiences a rare opportunity to experience the legendary Assad Brothers, whose lifelong musical partnership continues to embody virtuosity, creativity, and the power of music to move and inspire.