SPANISH TOUR DE FORCE HEATS UP THE STAGE FOR
PACIFIC SYMPHONY’S “BOLERO!” FEATURING ACCLAIMED
VIOLINIST PHILIPPE QUINT AND CAMINOS FLAMENCOS DANCERS
The concert—led by one of Mexico’s pre-eminent conductors, Carlos Miguel Prieto—is part of Music Unwound, featuring flamenco in the lobby pre-concert
Sultry flamenco, hot-tempered gypsy violin and the heat of the Spanish sun infuse the music of Pacific Symphony’s final Music Unwound concert of the season—“Bolero!”
Mexican guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto returns to the Symphony (having conducted Beethoven’s “Emperor” in 2009 and “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” in 2007) to take the orchestra and audience on a journey to the Iberian Peninsula, beginning with selections from Albeniz’ sizzling “Iberia.”
Then, Philippe Quint, a “violinist of uncommon brilliance and flair” (Strad), fires up the stage with Ravel’s rhapsodic “Tzigane” (Gypsy) and Sarasate’s Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen,” playing on the 1708 “Ruby” Antonio Stradivarius on loan from The Stradivari Society.
After intermission, the dancers of Caminos Flamencos, led by Emmy Award-winning Artistic Director Yaelisa, give a special flamenco performance to De Falla’s smoldering ballet, “The Three-Cornered Hat,” featuring mezzo-soprano Emily Fons from Lyric Opera of Chicago—lauded by the Chicago Tribune for “effortless musicality and charm.” The dancers return for the grand finale—the most famous 11 minutes in classical music—Ravel’s “Bolero” based on the Spanish dance form of the same name.
The concert, which takes place Thursday through Saturday, May 5-7, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, includes a demonstration and mini-lesson in flamenco dancing with singer Jesus Montoya, dancer Reyes Barrio and guitarist Jose Tanaka—in the lobby pre-concert. A preview talk with Alan Chapman begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25-$109; for more information or to purchase tickets call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.
