In June, The Spanish Hour discovers some of the lost sacred zarzuelas dating from the 18th century, that combine Spanish folklore with Greek mythology. June 14th @ 10p.
6/7 Ocultos a plena vista/Hidden in Plain Sight: Julián Orbón and Joan Manén This edition features works by two composers “hidden in plain sight:” Concerto grosso, written in 1958 by Spanish-born Cuban composer Julián Orbón, and Concierto Espagnol for violin and orchestra, dedicated to Fritz Kreisler, written in 1923 by Barcelona native Joan Manén.
6/14 La Zarzuela barroca Not to be confused with the popular operettas and lyric operas popular in Spain from the 1850s through the mid-20th century, the zarzuelas on this program, dating from the 18th century, combine Spanish folklore with Greek mythology. Featured are works by José de Nebra, the father of Spanish opera; Mallorca's Antonio de Literes; Tomás Milans, master of the sacred zarzuela; and Vicente Martín y Soler, "the Valencian Mozart."
6/21 Classics of the Romantic Spanish violin An array of some of the great Spanish show-stoppers for violin from the late 19th-century, a golden age for the Spanish virtuoso performer-composer. Featured are Sarasate's Zapateado and Carmen Fantasy; Monasterio's Grand Fantasy for violin and piano, based on well-known Spanish folk tunes; and three concert pieces for violin and orchestra by Enrique Fernández Arbós. With GiIl Shaham, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Manuel Guillén, Ara Malikian, and Jesús Lopez Cobos.
6/28 Music from Medieval and Renaissance Spain Roman, Germanic, Byzantine, French, Arabic, and Jewish cultures all contributed to Spanish music. We’ll explore vocal music from Spain from the 13th-17th centuries: settings of secular and sacred texts by Tomás Luis de Victoria and Mateo Flecha the Elder, plus anonymous Sephardic and Navarrese love songs reflect the mix of cultures throughout the Five Kingdoms of Spain.
