United States Numerous: Sabina Puértolas (soprano), Javier Perianes (piano), Orchestra of the Teatro Actual / Juanjo Mena (conductor). Carnegie Corridor, New York, 15.9.2022. (RP)
Manuel de Falla – El sombrero de tres picos, Suites Nos.1&2; Noches en los jardines de España; La vida breve, Interlude & Dance No.1
Isaac Albéniz – Iberia, E-book I, ‘El Puerto’ & ‘Evocación’, and E-book II, ‘Triana’ (orch. Enrique Fernández Arbós)
Amadeu Vives – ‘Canción del ruiseñor’ (from Doña Francisquita)
Pablo Sorozábal – ‘En un país de fabula’ (from La tabernera del puerto)
Federico Chueca – Prelude (from El bateo)
Gerónimo Giménez & Miguel Nieto – ‘Me llaman la primorosa’ (from El barbero de Sevilla)
The Orchestra of the Teatro Actual in Madrid carried out at Carnegie Corridor for the primary time in its historical past on 15 September. Based by King Ferdinand VII in 1818, the Teatro Actual, which homes Spain’s acclaimed nationwide opera firm, opened in 1850. Darkish for over forty years within the mid-twentieth century, the opera home reopened in 1966. A significant renovation, which was accomplished in 1997, restored the theater to its prior glory. In 2021, it was acknowledged because the Greatest Worldwide Opera Firm by Worldwide Opera Awards.
This was greater than a celebration of Spanish tradition, nonetheless, because the gala live performance commemorated the fortieth anniversary of Madrid and New York changing into sister cities. Queen Sophia of Spain headed the delegation of notables attending the live performance. The Queen lives within the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid; the Spanish style of musical drama originated in its theater. Naturally, music from a number of the hottest zarzuelas was featured within the live performance.
If the orchestra had been a stranger to New York, that was not the case with its conductor for the night, Juanjo Mena. One among Spain’s main conductors, Mena made his North American conducting debut with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2004. Since then, he has appeared with most main American orchestras, together with the New York Philharmonic.
It was a night of melodies, rhythms, musical colour and drama that’s synonymous with Spanish music. The music, nonetheless, additionally sheds gentle on Spain’s advanced wrestle to turn out to be a contemporary nation based on the ideas of liberalism and capitalism. Manuel de Falla and Isaac Albéniz, close to contemporaries and two of the nation’s most vital composers, needed to depart residence to pursue their artistic impulses. Zarzuela thrived, nonetheless, as its creators hewed to politically-approved tales of poor however sincere individuals who face day by day difficulties with a humorousness and, usually, resignation.
Falla’s music coursed via the live performance as did the music and ambiance of his beloved Andalusia. The 2 suites which he extracted from El sombrero de tres picos opened the live performance. The viewers was additionally handled to the way more unique Noches en los jardines de España, in addition to the Interlude and Dance from his opera La Vida Breve.
Pianist Javier Perianes made his Carnegie Corridor debut in 2015 and returned to its stage in 2019. At this live performance, he carried out as soloist in three choices from Albéniz’s Iberia in orchestral preparations by the composer’s pal Enrique Fernández Arbós. The piano suite is regarded as the composer’s best work; Claude Debussy and Olivier Messiaen thought of Iberia the very best piano work of the 20th century. Perianes exudes serenity when seated on the piano which, coupled along with his formidable method, enabled him to dispatch the technical calls for of the three choices with ease, and to infuse them with lightness and brilliance.
Sabina Puértolas has appeared in opera and oratorio in Europe and the USA, in addition to zarzuela in her native Spain. The soprano took benefit of a quick orchestra interlude to change robes, remodeling herself from demure to glamorous. Vocally, she was equally alluring along with her silvery voice and easy coloratura turning phrases and music into emotion. A spotlight was Puértolas imitating the sound of a nightingale with pinpoint accuracy to xylophone accompaniment in an aria from Amadeu Vives’s Doña Francisquita.
Two encores adopted. Within the first, Puértolas returned to the stage to dazzle in ‘Carceleras’ from Las hijas del zebedeo by Ruperto Chapí. The orchestra then performed the rousing Interlude from La Boda de Luis Alonso by Gerónimo Giménez. It’s a showcase for brass and percussion that ended the night with equal components fashion, enjoyable and enthusiasm.
This was an event to showcase for the Orchestra of the Teatro Actual and shine it did. Excellent musicianship was to be anticipated, however what made the live performance particular was their apparent love of the music and their enjoyment of sharing it with a brand new viewers.
Rick Perdian
