Espana: From the Old World to the New World

This concert will feature Michigan State University’s Tyler Roberts, a mezzo-soprano, who will perform with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra during Manuel de Falla’s “El Amour Brujo.” Also on the play list is Juan Crisostomo Arriaga’s “Los Esclavos Felice” overture; Pablo de Sarasate’s “Navarra;” and Astor Piazzolla’s “Variations on Buenos Aires.”

This performance will include choreographed Latin dancing and a vocal soloist.

A pre-concert talk by GLCO Conductor Libor Ondras starts at 6:00PM in the Community Engagement Room.

Entitled “España – From the Old World to the New World,” the performance will feature music from composers Manuel de Falla, Juan Crisostomo Arriaga, Pablo de Sarasate, and Astor Piazzola.

Tyler Roberts, a mezzo-soprano from Michigan State University, will be the featured vocalist performing with the GLCO during de Falla’s “El Amour Brujo.”

Also on the program are Arriaga’s “Los Esclavos Felice” overture, de Sarasate’s “Navarra,” and Piazzolla’s “Variations on Buenos Aires.”

This is a concert of Spanish music evoking ideas of Romantic exoticism, described by Ondras as “the idea of distance embodied by sound and perceived by the listener as belonging to another music tradition.”

“Present are extra-musical elements, including dramatic plot/story, dancing, monologue, and visual stage effects,” Ondras explained. “The music mimics the elements of Spanish folk music, like guitar strumming and dance rhythms, delivering the sonic image that audience might have already constructed in their minds, playing on the audience’s collective and romantic imagination of Spain.”

Central to the program is de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo” synopsis. As Ondras explained it, “El Amor Brujo” is the story of an Andalusian gypsy woman called Candela. Although her affection is for a man named Carmelo, as a girl she was promised to be married to another man (then a boy). After many years, Candela’s husband has died, but he continues to haunt his wife.

The entire village knows about the haunting, but still brands Candela as crazy because she dances every night with her husband’s ghost. Candela, now a widow, is free to establish a relationship with Carmelo but continues to be haunted by her husband’s ghost.

Those who attend the concert will find out how the story ends.

The program’s remainder enhances the perception of Spanish music through geographical and cultural references to Navarra (a virtuosic piece for two violins by Sarasate), as well as an early classical period composition by Spanish composer Arriaga.