Sérgio and Odair, live at Museu Imperial (RJ), 1973. Archive: IPB — Instituto de Piano Brasileiro.
A few years later, Mazo stopped managing them, and the brothers’ career entered a period of instability. Without professional representation, in 1972—when he was only twenty—Sérgio took over production for the Duo.
Facing difficulties finding and negotiating concerts, he discovered the Young Soloists Competition of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and decided to enter them. The bet proved decisive: by winning first place, interest in the Duo Assad was reignited.
One of the first outcomes of this resurgence was an invitation to perform in the foyer of Rio de Janeiro’s Theatro Municipal—a strategic space where art critics often circulated. Soon after, they took the stage at the prestigious Sala Cecília Meireles, attracting an audience full of influential names. Among them was music agent Jacob Herzog, who represented artists such as pianist Antonio Guedes Barbosa. Convinced by the brothers’ talent, Herzog offered to represent them.
Amid this period of professional reorganization, Sérgio began reflecting on his own musical formation. He considered deepening his studies in conducting and enrolled at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), seeking to broaden his artistic horizons. He knew Odair possessed rare instrumental talent and that, to keep the duo in balance, he needed to strengthen other facets of his own training.
However, the university, located in downtown Rio, was far from Campo Grande, and his routine was already intense: study and rehearsals with Odair, lessons with Monina, and a growing concert schedule organized by Herzog. Balancing all these demands soon proved unworkable. Sérgio alternated between pausing and resuming the course a few times, completing four of the seven required years, but the Duo’s career momentum and the need to stay focused on repertoire made it clear he could not pursue the degree simultaneously.
Thus, he chose to dedicate himself entirely to the guitar and to the musical investigations developed alongside his brother—a path that would definitively consolidate the artistic identity of the Duo Assad.
