Las Dos Orillas: Vocal Music in Spain and Latin America with Luis Llaneza (Baritone) & Mei Lin Hii (Piano) –
“Las Dos Orillas” is a journey through Spanish and Latin American music, which have so much in common and that owe so much to each other; the rhythms and melodies that came to America returned to Spain enriched.
There is something that distinguishes Spain and that is the blend and fusion of cultures and peoples. Hence the concert begins with a traditional Sephardic song of the 15th Century called Adio Querida, enriched with the harmonization of the Spanish composer
Manuel García Morante.
Tripili is a song from the 18 th Century within the genre that in Spain was called scenic tonadilla. These pieces are conceived to be represented theatrically and one of its greatest representatives Blas de Laserna.
With the arrival of nationalism in Spain, Spanish composers realize that the main value of Spanish music lies in its popular music with hundreds of sounds, rhythms and totally original melodies. Thus all these authors stopped imitating German symphonism orItalian lyricism to lay their eyes on some folkloric sources of great value which are a distinctive stamp of music in our country. Here I bring examples of Falla, Granados, García Lorca or Fernando Obradors who try and manage, in my humble opinion, to elevate popular music to the quality and richness of chamber music without losing the essence of their popular roots.
Carlos Guastavino is one of the greatest Argentinian composers of the 20th Century and one of the main contributors in bringing traditional music of his country to concert halls. All the while maintaining the richness and purity of Argentinian melodism so full of evocative nuances.
Talking about Cuba is synonymous with speaking of great musical richness in its melodies and rhythms. It is also the perfect blend of Spanish and European music with native and African rhythms that come together on the island. Both Ernesto Lecuona, Sánchez de Fuentes and Moisés Simons are composers with a background in European music but whose work revolves continuously around the rhythms of the island. The bolero comes from Spain and takes a nature card in Cuba and Mexico –as we can see in the work of Marta de Simons or the Mexican Agustín Lara. The habanera is a genuine product of this mixture of cultures that occurs in Cuba in a wonderful and delicious way.
The last section of the concert is made up of three examples of our finest theatrical music: Zarzuela, a genre that is genuinely Spanish. After trying to create a national opera as in many other countries, our composers came to the conclusion that the Spanish drama scene should also be linked to popular music and hence the birth of this unique genre.
October 29, 9.00pm
Admission fee RM64 (add our optional Set Dinner in your checkout to enjoy our lovely dinner menu)
Don’t miss out on our happy hour promo on tapas, beer (by the bottle), wine (by the glass), cocktails and spirits (by the glass) from 6-8pm (Sundays to Thursdays only)!
*RM10 off for students with valid Student ID, at the door.