Spanish Fireworks

, Ben and I warmly invite you to join us for an impassioned evening of SPANISH FIREWORKS in tribute to Enrique Granados' 150th birthday and the composers in his circle, featuring both beloved and lesser-known works by Boccherini, Granados, Turina, Falla, Cassado, Halffter, Casals, Mompou, and Piazzolla. We begin our musical journey with Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) - an Italian-born composer and virtuoso cellist who spent most of his life in Spain and exemplified the galant and courtly style of hte Early Classical era. Boccherini wrote over 30 sontas for cello and basso continuo, characterized by their Rococo charm, lightness and elegance, unique blend of virtuosity and expressive singing style, and great melodic and rhythmic invention, all on display in his Cello Sonata in A Major, G. 4 (1772) with its fiery Allegro and poignant Affettuoso finale. A renowned figure of the 19th century, Enrique Granados (1867-1916) established himself as a leading Spanish pianist and composer who coined a uniquely Spanish nationalist style. Aside from his numerous works for solo piano, Granados also wrote a number of chamber music works involving the piano, such as his wistful, Renaissance-inspired Madrigal for cello and piano (1915), which was premiered by the Catalan cellist composer Gaspar Cassado and Granados' student, Frederic Longas. A renowned Spanish pianist-composer of the first part of the 20th century, Joaquin Turina (1882-1949) was highly influenced by both the French and Andalusian music, infused with his own distinctive compositional style. His amorous Polimnia (Nocturno) from Las musas de Andalucia, op. 93 (1942) evokes the special soundworld of both the French Impressionist style as well as the piquant Spanish exoticism of the Andaluzian music in the hauntingly beautiful arrangment for cello and piano. Along with Albeniz and Granados, Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) is ranked as one of the most notable Spanish composers of the first half of the 20th century. One of his most beloved works is his popular set of Seven Spanish Folksongs, originally for voice and piano, six of which were later arranged into a folkloric Suite populaire Espagnole for cello and piano (1925), showcasing the different regions and sounds of Spain, including Jota, a fiery folk dance music from Aragon with its zesty evocation of the Spanish castanets, and Polo, the final Gypsy- and Flamenco-inspired folk dance of the Suite. Gaspar Cassado (1897-1966) was a renowned Spanish cellist and a prolific composer of the early 20th century who wrote many works for cello and piano, guitar and piano, three string quartets, a cello concerto, a piano trio, and numerous transcriptions of concertos of other composers. His Suite for Cello Solo (1925) is considered one of his most finest works, consisting of three characterful dance movements: the evocative opening Preludio-Fantasia - a Zarabanda; Sardana, a traditional dance from Catalonia, and the spirited Intermezzo e Danza Finale - a Jota. Ernesto Halffter (1905-1989), along with his brother Rodolfo Halffter, was an important Spanish composer and conductor of the 20th century who was much inspired by the music of Manuel de Falla. His bucolic Canzone e pastorella (1934), effectively transcribed for cello and piano by Gaspar Cassado, is filled with ever-changing meters in its lyrical opening Canzone (song) and the flavorful Spanish rhythms and sounds of bagppipes in the lively Pastorella dance that follows. Catalan-born Pablo Casals (1876-1973) is regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century and one of the grestest cellists of all time, best remembered for his recordings of the Bach Cello Suites in 1930s and his famous and hauntingly beautiful instrumental transcription of the traditional Catalan Christmas song, El cant dels ocells ("Song of the Birds") for cello and piano (1972). Following in Granados's and Turina's footsteps, the Spanish composer and pianist, Federico Mompou (1887-1983) was highly influenced by the French Impressionism of Claude Debussy, and was best known for his evocative piano music and his songs. His haunting El Pont ("The Bridge") for cello and piano (1947), originally an abandoned piece for solo piano, reflects, according to Mompou himself, his impressions during his walks at Montjuic in Barcelona and explores a subtle sonorous dialogue between the two players. Our program concludes with Astor Piazzolla's sizzling Le Grand Tango for cello and piano (1982), written for the Russian cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich, that expresses the spirit of nuevo tango ("new tango") in a brilliant marriage of traditional tango rhythms and jazz-inspired syncopation, along with bracingly virtuosic writing for both players alike. Don't miss this electrifying program of the Spanish Fireworks for cello and piano in tribute to Enrique Granados and his circle!
Ben and I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday, October 28th!
  
Best wishes,

Dr. Yelena Grinberg, founder and artistic director of the Grinberg Classical Salon Series
 
 
WHEN: Saturday, October 28th, 2017, at 5 p.m.
          Doors will open starting at 4:30 p.m.           Food-and-wine reception will follow the performance
WHERE: Private Residence on Upper West Side (upper 90s)
          You will be emailed the exact home address after you register through this website
ADMISSION: $28.00
          Admission price includes the wine-and-hors d'oeuvres reception with the guest Artists          Attendance is limited to just 21 seats!          Note: Advance ticket purchase through this site is required. 
CONTACT: Dr. Yelena Grinberg (ygpiano@gmail.com)
PROGRAM:
BOCCHERINI - Sonata in A Major for cello and piano, G. 4 (1772)GRANADOS - Madrigal in A minor for cello and piano (1915)TURINA - Polimnia (Nocturno) from Las Musas de Andalucia, op. 93 (1942)FALLA - Suite populaire Espagnole for cello and piano (1925) ***CASSADO - Suite for Solo Cello (1926)HALFFTER - Canzone e Pastorella for cello and piano (1934)CASALS - El cant dels ocells ("Song of the Birds") for cello and piano (1972)MOMPOU - El Pont ("The Bridge") for cello and piano (1947)PIAZZOLLA - Le Grand Tango for cello and piano (1982)