Young Pedro Tirolli, immersed in music since he was 7 years old, is now taking his first steps in audiovisual. At 12 years old, he plays the young Chitãozinho, from the famous duo Chitãozinho and Xororó, in the series “As Aventuras De José E Durval”, which recently premiered on Globoplay. Alongside talented names like Rodrigo Simas and Felipe Simas, Pedro surprises not only with his performance, but also with his mastery of the complex timbres of country music.
Born and raised in the interior of São Paulo, in the city of Palmital, Pedro Tirolli had his musical roots deeply connected to country music. He grew up listening to Chitãozinho and Xororó and never imagined that one day he would play his idol on screen. “I can only show gratitude and honor,” he says.
Pedro had the opportunity to meet the duo on several occasions, and even had meaningful conversations with Chitãozinho. “He is always very affectionate. I remember when we played and sang for them on a film set, and he said: ‘your voice is very similar to mine when I was a child’. It was a great emotion!”
Pedro’s passion for acting is clear in his work on the series, and he expresses a desire to continue acting and singing. “These are two passions that have provided magical moments for me and, God willing, will continue to do so. The series awakened in me the desire to play different characters.” As for music, Pedro is preparing new things. “I still have the habit of composing, and if everything goes well, new compositions will be recorded soon.”
Playing Chitãozinho as a child is a challenge. How did you prepare to play the young Chitãozinho in the series “As Aventuras De José E Durval” and to capture not only the voice, but also the essence of the singer?
Giant challenge, full of joy, happiness and also a lot of responsibility! We had intense preparation to play José and know how to get into the character, the simple way of the country, what they would think at a given moment.
The essence of a singer, I believe that was precisely one of the requirements of the great casting production team, finding singers who could act. Or, singing actors who didn’t even know they acted. For me it was a surprise and an immense joy, because representing one of the greatest in the history of Brazil is an immense honor. It will stay for eternity.
In addition to Chitãozinho and Xororó, you also had the opportunity to sing alongside other renowned artists, such as Daniel. How have these experiences shaped your artistic growth?
Do you know that this experience of going on stage with great people does me a lot of good?! It was like that when I sang with Chitão and Xororó, with Daniel. That initial fear and butterflies remain below the stage. When I go up, I kind of enter another world and if I’m focused on what I’m going to say and do, things happen. I like the stage, but I need to be focused and have done my homework. This just adds to my experience for next time. As my father says, we must be ready when opportunities come, and they will come.
You mentioned that the challenge of singing as Chitãozinho was not only emulating the timbres, but also doing the second voice. What was the training like to achieve this skill?
As there are no records of Chitãozinho and Xororó singing as children, someone would have to do it. Thank God I was chosen among hundreds and I thank again the work of producer Alonso Zerbinato and Anna Luiza who were amazing with me.
With that we went to the studio to learn Chitãozinho’s extraordinary second voice. I had great help from Tati Parra, a singing teacher who adjusted my voice and took me places. That I didn’t imagine. And the emotion in each note reached, with each “yes, you did it boy!” by Otávio de Moraes (music producer), it was a reason for celebration that I carry in my heart.
What was the experience of playing young Chitãozinho in the series “As Aventuras De José E Durval” alongside well-known names on TV?
Kind of surreal, right! Leaving the interior of São Paulo, without many opportunities in acting and facing these fantastic people for the first time was awesome. The first few times there was that shame, asking for photos and so on. But then we became a big family.
You started playing music when you were 7 years old. How did music influence your performance in the series?
It influenced a lot! I often say that art is complete. And it was exactly the music, my singing, my guitar that put me to a test. From then on, I had to defend what I really wanted, to be approved for a series, which at the time of the first tests, I didn’t even know were about Chitãozinho and Xororó.
Being part of a series that tells the story of Chitãozinho and Xororó must be exciting. What impressed you most about this experience?
As everything is new, every detail really impressed me. From our preparation, moving to São Paulo, then to the interior again, hotels, transportation. But when I arrive on a film set, I notice the cameras, everyone involved, it changes my insides. It’s like going up on stage, I enter another world. The “recording” moves me.
“As Aventuras De José E Durval” is a series that addresses the history of country music. How do you see the importance of preserving and telling these stories in Brazilian culture?
A people are not the same if they don’t know their history (I seem to have read this somewhere), so everything evolves according to a well-made history. And Chitãozinho and Xororó have this legacy, of overcoming barriers and making Brazilian country music one of the most played every year. University sertanejo, for example, is an innovation that began with Chitãozinho and Xororó way back when. They are a game changer.
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