Latin flair will fill the air at Barnum Hall tomorrow evening as the Santa Monica Symphony presents a concert that it feels may be their most fun and exciting program yet.
That’s quite a statement given the fact that almost all of their concerts have been filled to capacity with delighted standing ovations for years.
“I always like to offer my favorite music to our audiences” said Guido Lamell, the orchestra’s Music Director. “Before coming to Los Angeles, I was concertmaster of the Mexico City Philharmonic and I remember the pieces that caused the greatest roaring responses – bordering on pandemonium!”
“Those are the works I’ve selected for this program: George Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra, José Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango, and Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story,” Lamell said.
“I’ve never before performed or heard all of these “world’s favorites” together in one fell swoop. I won’t be surprised if the roof gets blown off the place!” he exclaimed.
The orchestra is thrilled to present the Internationally acclaimed Guitar Virtuoso, Mak Grgiç, to perform the Concierto de Aranjuez, which is generally considered to be the greatest and most beautiful work for Guitar and Orchestra.
Grgiç, who was recently a Young Artist in Residence at The Da Camera Society of Los Angeles, is a co-founder of DC8, Da Camera’s contemporary music ensemble, which strives to expand the definition of what a modern music ensemble can be.
“The other works on the program will give you the irresistible urge to jump out of your seats and dance,” Lamell continued. “Whenever we performed these works in Mexico and throughout South America, our audiences went wild! They danced in the aisles or at their seats. They’re not as inhibited as we are… when they’re excited, they go with it. If that would happen here, I’d be absolutely ecstatic!”
The concert will be performed this Saturday evening, March 12th, at 7:30pm, at Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, 600 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, 90405.
All Santa Monica Symphony concerts are FREE, Open Seating.
For parking and other information, please see our website: www.smSymphony.org
