By Alayna Een
Sketches of Spain is part of the Utah Symphony’s Masterworks Series at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah. While none of the pieces performed in the concert were actually written by Spanish composers, all of the pieces and their movements were inspired by Spain—its landscape, aura, cultural energy, and music. I happen to have the heart of a Spaniard, so I felt the freedom and elegance in Edouard Lalo’s SymphonieEspagnole. I sensed the passion in Maurice Ravel’s lively Rapsodie Espagnole. I swayed with Louis Aubert’s sultry Habanera. And I saw the impression of the Spanish city streets in Claude Debussy’s “Iberia,” from the Images pour Orchestre. Audience members who are new to the unique energy and richness of the Spanish culture will enjoy the special flavor of this incredible performance.
The first piece of the night, Unstuck, is written by Andrew Norman, a composer in association with the Utah Symphony, who is wrapping up his residence in the area. While this piece’s connection to the Spanish theme less obvious, its rhyming, angular, and texturally-gleaming structure follows the spirit of the modern architect Frank Gehry, who designed one of the most beloved modern buildings in Spain. The piece weaves between organized cacophony and scattered instrumental solos, with complex harmonies highlighted in solo cello portions performed by Walter Haman, Matthew Johnson, and Andrew Larson.
The true star of the night is violin virtuoso Benjamin Beilman, who performs Symphonie Espagnole. This piece showcasing the violin was written by French composer Edouard Lalo, whose composition was inspired by one of the greatest violin virtuosi of all time, the Spaniard Pablo de Sarasate. Beilman moves with the music, dancing and swaying as the melody suggests, and at one point he looks equal to taking up the cape of a matador. Yet he does all of this while deftly playing the violin. Beilman’s deep, rich tone, his technical skill, and his passionate performance would have been enough to make Sarasate himself give a standing ovation, and audience members in the Abravanel Hall can’t stay in their seats. As an encore, Beilman performs a solo piece, unaccompanied, and his complete mastery of his art and his instrument (the “Engleman” Stradivarius) is fully revealed.
All of the pieces in Sketches of Spain are performed by the superb symphony, with occasional highlights from specific instruments and performers such as concertmistress Madeline Adkins and violist Brant Bayless. The Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole movements are rich and full. Aubert’s Habanera is strong and sensuous and the solo performance by Bayless is a credit to the show. The Debussy movements are imaginative and involve the whole orchestra in a swooping finale to a wonderful evening.
Well-performed music can transport the listener to a different time and place, and that is exactly what Utah Symphony’s Sketches of Spain offers. Older youth and adults will all enjoy this performance. Don’t skip out on this trip to Spain!
Utah Symphony Presents Sketches of Spain.
Abravanel Hall, 123 W S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Mar 6-7, 2020, 7:30 PM
Tickets: $10$92.00
www.usuo.org
Contact: 801-533-5626
Utah Symphony Facebook Page
Sketches of Spain Facebook event
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