Rare performance of guitar concerto

Oct 14, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7071

SPOKANE—The Spokane Symphony and Music Director Eckart Preu will present a program featuring a guitar concerto, performed by virtuoso guitarist Manuel Barrueco, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at 3 p.m. at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Preu begins and ends the concert with romantic selections that vividly evoke the pleasures of heaven and earth.

Concertgoers can access new Interactive Program Notes, now available for each of the concerts in the Classics series, on the Spokane Symphony website. These notes include audio clips from the music and a pop-up glossary of musical terms to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the concerts. Notes for Classics 3 can be accessed at http://www.spokanesymphony.org/notes/classics3.htm

The concert will open with Liszt’s Les Préludes, which some have called the first Tone-Poem. The third of Liszt’s 12 Symphonic Poems, it portrays four themes of earthly life that Liszt called a prelude to “that unknown chant, the first solemn note of which is sounded by Death…" The work contains four Episodes, each focusing on a different stage of life. They are: The Dawn of Existence – Love; Storms of Life; Refuge and Consolation of Rural Life; and Strife and Conquest. Although these may be reminiscent of the movements in a symphony, Liszt allowed the subject matter of his themes, rather than classical format, to dictate his music.

Next, legendary classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco will perform his interpretation of the Manolo Sanlúcar's hauntingly beautiful flamenco ballet, Medea, arranged for guitar and orchestra. Originally commissioned in 1984 by the Ballet Nacional de España, Medea has become a milestone of flamenco dance. It is based on the mythological tale of Medea, daughter of the Grecian sun god, who helped Jason, and later exacted revenge when he fell in love with another. Sanlúcar, an outstanding guitarist, later reworked the score as a concerto with himself as the soloist.

Grammy nominated Manuel Barrueco, who the New York Times calls “a superior musician,” is internationally recognized as one of the most important guitarists of our time. His unique artistry has been continually described as that of a superb instrumentalist and a superior and elegant musician, possessing a seductive sound and uncommon lyrical gifts. His career has been dedicated to bringing the guitar to major musical centers across the United States and around the world.  He has recorded more than a dozen albums, including Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with conductor and tenor Plácido Domingo and the Philharmonia Orchestra; cited as the best recording of that piece in Classic CD Magazine.  Barrueco's commitment to contemporary music and to the expansion of the guitar repertoire has led him to collaborations with many distinguished composers such as Steven Stucky, Michael Daugherty, Roberto Sierra, Arvo Pärt and Toru Takemitsu, whose last orchestral work Spectral Canticle was a double concerto written specifically for Manuel Barrueco and violinist Frank Peter Zimmerman. Manuel Barrueco has appeared on a wide array television programs and his work inspired Michael Lawrence’s biographical documentary “Manuel Barrueco: A Gift and a Life,” which has been aired by PBS stations. Manuel Barrueco began playing the guitar at the age of eight, and he attended the Esteban Salas Conservatory in his native Cuba. He immigrated with his family to the United States in 1967, as political refugees.  Later, he completed his advanced studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he now shares his love for music with a small number of exceptionally gifted young guitarists from all over the world. “Manuel Barrueco: A Gift and a Life” may be viewed at http://www.spokanesymphony.org/concert,65,classics3heaven

Finally, the Symphony will perform one of Bruckner's most popular works, Symphony No. 4, “Romantic Symphony.” It was written in 1874, but revised several times through 1888. The only symphony subtitled the by Bruckner, it paints a picture of Medieval romance as epitomized by tales of heroic knights performing great feats of daring. The first movement is described as "Dawn at a medieval citadel... knights sally forth from the gates on proud chargers...the wonder of nature surrounds them..." The second movement is said to represent a tryst between two medieval lovers. The scherzo represents a hunt. The symphony concludes with an inspiring grand finale. Bruckner was known for his taking his time to build musical themes, using gradual crescendos and powerful codas, and innovative orchestration that drew from his expertise as an organist.

Tickets for either performance are $22, $32, $40, and $44. Tickets are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office, located at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.spokanesymphony.org Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT. Student Rush tickets are available, based on availability, two hours before each concert. Student Rush tickets are $7 between 6:00 and 6:30 on Saturday evening and between 1:00 and 1:30 on Sunday. After that, they may be purchased for $11. Student Rush tickets are cash only, and only one ticket may be purchased for each student I.D.

The underwriters for this concert are Harriet and William Fix and The Johnson Fix Foundation.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Heaven and Earth Classics Concert 3; Eckart Preu conducts the Spokane Symphony; Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Tickets are $22 to $44; call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200 or in person at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague; tickets are also available at www.spokanesymphony.org and through all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT.