More Details About Los Angeles Guitar Quartet's Sultry Spanish Nights
More Information
<p>Special guests, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) and mezzo-soprano Carmella Jones, join the Symphony and Music Director Carl St.Clair for this evening of mesmerizing classical guitar and sizzling Latin rhythms. In addition to tasty morsels from Bizet’s alluring “Carmen,” sung by Jones, the audience is treated to the celebrated guitar quartet performing a special arrangement of Rodrigo’s “Concierto andaluz.” Also on the program are Latin-flavored gems by Ravel (“Alborado del Gracioso”), Chabrier’s “España” and Albeniz’s “Sevilla,” from Suite Espanola, plus De Falla’s familiar “The Three-Cornered Hat.” </p>
<p>This concert has it all—one of the greatest operatic title figures, the ever-sultry ‘Carmen,’ and the astonishing Los Angeles Guitar Quartet performing the spicy Spanish music with bravura and flair!” says Maestro St.Clair. “It's a summer musical evening not to be missed!” </p>
<p>Gramophone’s Donald Rosenberg called the music of the LAGQ: “An affectionate and pithy journey through popular styles and guitar techniques, played with a keen blend of coloristic flair, expressive subtlety and whirlwind virtuosity.... Terrific artistry captured in close, vivid sound.”</p>
<p>Recognized as one of America’s premier instrumental ensembles, the Grammy Award-winning LAGQ is one of the most charismatic groups performing today. The LAGQ’s four virtuosi bring a new energy to the concert stage with their eclectic programs and dynamic musical interplay. Their critically acclaimed transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world-music realms continually break new ground. The group has set new standards for the guitar quartet medium. The LAGQ has given recitals in many of the world’s top halls, including Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, Tokyo Opera City, and New York’s Alice Tully Hall. They have toured extensively in Europe and Asia, where they were featured at the Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila International Arts Festivals.</p>
<p>“Having the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet with the Pacific Symphony is like having two orchestras on stage at one time,” says St.Clair. “We are going to light up the summer night with the bravura and spirit of great Spanish music!” </p>
Pacific Symphony
The Pacific Symphony has become an important Southern California arts organization, and plays an ever-increasing integral role within the framework of the Orange County community. Orange County is a growing, vibrant community, and the Pacific Symphony is growing along with it, establishing roots that are helping the community in many ways, both seen and unseen.
Founded in 1978 and currently led my Music Director Carl St.Clair, the Pacific Symphony performs over 80 concerts a year at venues throughout Orange County, including the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.
The Orchestra's all-encompassing and diverse repertoire (which matches their diverse audience) includes a variety of styles, including classics concerts, pops concerts, chamber music concerts, and family concerts -- a trademark of the new American orchestra. The Orchestra's performances and music education outreach programs provide enrichment to over 250,000 audience members every year.
This young orchestra has become a force in the international music world, producing 20 commercial recordings and presenting numerous world premieres.
Many of the world's greatest classical artists have performed or are scheduled to perform with the Pacific Symphony including Andre Watts, Sarah Chang, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, and Mstislav Rostropovich. Among the many stellar Broadway stars who have appeared in pops concerts are Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune and Davis Gaines.
