Spanish music leads repertoire

PANAMA. Thanks to the support of Spain’s Embassy in Panama, Spanish music will be well represented in the VII International Guitar Gathering Panama 2009,” to be celebrated at the National Theater from May 18 – 22.

The maestro Manuel Barrueco, internationally renowned classical guitar player, will open this year’s event with an unprecedented concert in the history of classical guitar in Panama, said Emiliano Pardo-Tristan, founder and artistic director of the event.

The second half of Monday’s program by maestro Barrueco will be dedicated exclusively to music by three Spanish composers.

From Isaac Albeniz, Barrueco will interpret his own version of Cataluña y Sevilla , originally written for the piano; from Francisco Tárrega he will perform Capricho Arabe , Danza Mora and Mazurka en Sol ; and from Joaquín Malats he will perform Serenata Andaluza and Serenata Española.

On Tuesday 19, at the “Guitars without Borders” concert, the Israeli Mia Pomerantz and the Mexican Jorge Amaral, both graduates from the prestigious masters program at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, will perform.

Pomerantz’s repertoire will include two Spanish works, one from the renaissance of Luis de Milan and other from the classicism of Dionisio Aguado. The program will end with a duet by Pomerantz and Amaral interpreting Joaquin Rodrigo’s La Tonadilla.

On Wednesday, one of the most relevant young figures of classical guitar in the world today, the Spanish virtuosa Anabel Montesinos, will play the Variaciones (variations) of Fernando Sor on Mozart’s Magic Flute.

Anabel and her husband, the Cuban/ Spanish Marco Tamayo, professor of Salzburg’s Mozarteum in Austria, will also play one of the dances of the opera La Vida Breve by Manuel de Falla.

Tamayo, considered by critics as “one of the biggest talents in his generation,” will also fly solo, with the Sonata by Joaquín Turina.

Both interpreters will be in charge of the premiere in our country of the Concierto Madrigal for two guitars and an orchestra by Joaquín Rodrigo.

The Concierto Madrigal is an tour de force for soloists and orchestra, with thirty minutes of music where they audience will listen fanfares, madrigals, fandangos and more.

On Friday, the American Paul Binkley will be in charge of interpreting the nostalgic Valses Poéticos (Poetic Vals) by the Catalan Enrique Granados.

The International Guitar Gathering has become the most important guitar event in Panama. Throughout its six previous versions, more than 50 international artists have come to play for local audiences.

This year, the artists will also provide technical classes for musical students from 9 a.m. – noon and 2 – 5 p.m. at the National Theater’s foyer.

Amateur musicians are invited to watch and take notes as more advanced students perform for the maestros and get their advice.

Tickets for all of the concerts range from $5 - $30 and are sold at Blockbuster and at the door.

A special note to those looking to test their fate in music: a Yamaha guitar courtesy of La Nota store will be raffled after Friday’s performance.