La Filarmónica Concert Society presents the Hungarian National Orchestra, conducted by Jordi Francés, with Ana Vidović (pictured) on guitar, on 23 January at 19.30 in the Symphonic Hall of the Auditorio Nacional de Música of Madrid.
The concert programme features a world premiere, Enrique Granados’ Valses poéticos (orchestration by Jordi Francés), which will be accompanied by Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite and Manuel de Falla’s El sombrero de tres picos.
Enrique Granados (1867 – 1916) is one of Spain’s greatest artists. Pianist, composer, music promoter and educator, he had an intense, short and cosmopolitan career that developed mainly between Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and New York. His work, especially his piano work, is part of the universal repertoire.
While Europe was engulfed in the First World War, Granados premiered his opera Goyescas at the Metropolitan in New York under the baton of Pablo Casals. As a result of its resounding and immediate success, he was invited by President Wilson to the White House. This moment of glory was the prelude to his tragedy: in order to attend the American president’s invitation, the composer was forced to change his route home and embark on the British ferry SS Sussex, which was to be bombed by the Germans. Granados would die trying to save his wife.
One of the most beautiful and delicate works in Granados’ repertoire are his Valses Poéticos. La Filarmónica has commissioned the conductor Jordi Francés to write the first orchestration of these waltzes, performed as a world premiere on this tour.
