2009-10

19 November 2009: Antoni Parera Fons: A Songwriter's Journey.

The Foundation for Iberian Music presents a concert entirely dedicated to the music of Antoni Parera Fons.

Presented by MUSIC IN MIDTOWN

Thursday, November 19, 2009 – 1pm
Elebash Recital Hall
The Graduate Center
365 Fifth Ave & 34th St
Free, No Reservation Required

Introductory remarks by Candice Agree of WQXR, the classical music station of the New York Times

PROGRAM

Lamento de Jueves Santo en Cuenca / Holy Thursday Lament in Cuenca
for solo violin, work commissioned by the 2006 Sacred Music Festival of Cuenca (Spain)
Ara Malikian

Correnties / Currents
for narrator, soprano, violin and piano
Guillem Frontera, Isabel Rey, Andreu Riera, Ara Malikian

Songs for Loli
for soprano and piano on lyrics by Isabel Rey
Isabel Rey and Antoni Parera Fons

Mentum
for solo piano
Foundation for Iberian Music Composers’ Commission 2008
Andreu Riera

Ara Malikian, violinist

Guillem Frontera, narrator

Isabel Rey, soprano

Andreu Riera, pianist

Composer, pianist, arranger, and producer ANTONI PARERA FONS was born in Mallorca in 1943 and studied piano and composition in Barcelona. His songs have been performed by acclaimed singers including José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Alfredo Kraus, José Van Dam, Jaime Aragall, current Met’s baritone Juan Pons, and many others. In 1992 he wrote the music for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. More recently, the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra) premiered a large ambitious orchestral work, Nocturn per a un capvespre blau (Nocturne for a blue evening). As an arranger, he has participated in many notable events including the CD Christmas in Vienna with Diana Ross and The Three Tenors. As a producer, his recording of the opera El gato con botas (Puss in boots) by Xavier Montsalvatge was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004. He has won numerous awards, gold and platinum discs as well as various national and international recognitions.

With support from:

Consulate General of Spain in New York

25 February 2010: Benet Casablancas: A Composer's Portrait.

The Foundation for Iberian Music presents a concert by Perspectives Ensemble.

Presented by Miller Theatre

Thursday, February 25th, 2010
8pm
Miller Theatre
Columbia University
2960 Broadway & 116th st.

P R O G R A M

PART I

New Epigrams for chamber Orchestra (1997)
1. Con moto
2. Adagio
3. Scherzando (Con moto)

Little night music (1993)

"Four Darks in Red"
Miller Theater Commission

Intermission

PART II

Seven Scenes from Hamlet for speaker and chamber orchestra
(1988-98)

1. Prologue, Misterioso
2. The Court. Suspicions, Allegro moderato
3. To be or not to be, Moderato molto e pensieroso
4. Ophelia, Larguetto amoroso
5. Party of the players, "a jig", Moderato
6. Yorick, burial of Ophelia, Poco grave
7. The ending, Allegro furioso

PERSPECTIVES ENSEMBLE

Sato Moughalian, Musical Director
Àngel Gil Ordóñez, Conductor

Born in Sabadell (Barcelona), Benet Casablancas Domingo is one of the leading Spanish composers of his generation. His works, distinguished with numerous commissions and awards, have been performed around Europe, Canada, the USA and South America, by prestigious soloists, ensembles and conductors.

His wide-ranging oeuvre, covering the most diverse genres and formats, is marked by a quest for radical personal and aesthetic independence. The critics have highlighted his concern for balancing constructional rigor and expressive strength, dramatic character and whimsical register, in the framework of a discourse in which coexist a progressively luminous harmonic language, rhythmic spirit, a growing timbre differentiation and instrumental virtuosity. In 2007 he received the National Prize of Music of the Catalonia Government, Generalitat of Catalunya, which is the highest honor that the government of his country awards in this cultural field.

Founded in 1993, Perspectives Ensemble creates musical events that present the works of composers in cultural or historic context. Its programs offer interpretations informed by the influences prevailing upon composers at the time of composition, and often bridge and integrate the musical, visual, and literary arts.

Àngel Gil Ordóñez has attained an outstanding reputation among Spain’s new generation of conductors. In 2006, the King of Spain awarded him the country’s highest civilian decoration, the Royal Order of Queen Isabella, which is equivalent to a knighthood, for his work in advancing Spanish culture in the world, in particular for performing and teaching Spanish music in its cultural context.

for past events click here