The country of Spain’s contribution to classical music hasn’t been as large as France’s, Germany’s, or Russia’s, but it has been every bit as distinctive. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, which always seems to hold interesting concerts right after the holiday break, delves into this corner of the repertoire this weekend.
Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducts the intermezzo from Enrique Granados’ opera Goyescas, a contemplative piece that has broken free of its original setting to become an orchestral item. He’ll also lead the performance of “Ibéria” from Debussy’s Images, an evocation of Spain filtered through the French composer’s polished orchestrations, written by a man who loved Spain and found in it a continual source of inspiration.
Pianist Joaquín Achúcarro then comes on for Nights in the Gardens of Spain, Manuel de Falla’s impressionistic composition where the piano is more ensemble player than star. The composer was from Andalusia, and the themes of the work refer heavily to the region’s Arabic influence. He’ll stay on for the splashier Rapsodia española, Cristóbal Halffter’s orchestral transcription of Isaac Albéniz’ piano piece that offers rather more in the way of pianistic fireworks. If all this leaves you in the mood for tapas and sherry, so much the better.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra plays Fri-Sun at Bass Performance Hall, 555 Commerce St, FW. Tickets are $17-88. Call 817-212-4280.
