Sun, May 13, 2012 2:00 PM
Fiesta
Guest Artist:
Polivios Issariotis, Guitar
GRANADOS . . . . . . Tres Danzas Espanolas
RODRIGO . . . . . . . . Concierto de Aranjuez
GINASTERA . . . . .Suite from the Ballet Estancia
Co-sponsored by Browne Law Office
Exciting Latin music is the inspiration for this concert that features music from Spain, Argentina and Mexico. Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez will be performed by outstanding Canadian guitarist Polovios Issaraoitis. The Spanish dances of Granados, the exciting rhythms of Argentinean composer Alberto Ginastera, and the thrilling Huopango by Mexican composer Jose Pablo de Moncayo will have our audiences dancing in the aisles. Join us for a symphonic FIESTA.
Biography
Polivios Issariotis
Born and raised in Toronto, Polivios has established himself as an international, multi-award winning Classical Guitarist, astounding audiences and critics across North America, Europe and Asia with his technical proficiency and unique expressiveness. Having spent his formative years training in dance and figure skating, Polivios did not begin Classical studies on the guitar until rather late - at the age of 16. Through the guidance and direction of renowned pedagogue Dr Alvin Tung, he entered the competition circuit, and within a few short years won nearly every competition on the local and national level, including first prize in the national championships of the prestigious Canadian Music Competition (CMC).
As a soloist and chamber musician, Polivios has had the opportunity to share the stage with many renowned performers and international acts, such as the Los Angelos Guitar Quartet, Chitravina N. Ravikiran, Dr. Draw, Ravi Naimpally, the Toronto Senior Strings, the Jubilate Singers, and many others in prestigious venues in North America, Europe and Asia. His repertoire includes works ranging from early music, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, as well as Modern, World music, and Avant Guard.
Since 2010, Polivios has given guitar concerts throughout Europe - solo and in collaboration in Aeolus duo with violinist Danish violinist Gudrun Högsberg. Future engagements include the Concierto de Aranjuez with the Laufen Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland.
Polivios has to date two solo recordings – ‘The Complete Solo Violin Sonatas of Johann Sebastian Bach,’ and ‘Eclectika: Modern Works for Guitar.’ He can also be heard on Canadian gold-selling artist Dr. Draw’s most recent studio release ‘Distinctively Unclassified.’
Polivios performs on an Imperial model concert guitar constructed by the recently deceased world renowned luthier Paulino Bernabe.
In addition to performance, Polivios is also an accomplished composer in a variety of mediums, with over 100 works to date, which have been performed in Canada, Asia and Europe. He has already received a number of commissions, which continue to increase. In 2008, he wrote “The Bhikshu Suite”, commissioned by the Dharma Center of Canada to commemorate the passing of their founder, Namgyal Rinpoche. His composition "White Night," a collaboration with electric violinist Dr. Draw was featured in the 2008 Nuit Blanche festival in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum, featuring the Royal Conservatory String Orchestra with David Visentin conducting. In 2010 saw the premier of new works in Europe, such as "The Song of Lord" for large chamber ensemble, a commission from the Heartchord Music festival in Dornach, Switzerland, performed in the main hall of the world renowned Goetheanum. The work was later given a repeat performance in the Basel Stadt Casino, one of Switzerland's most prestigious Classical music venues. Future commisisions for 2011 include, a String Quartet to commemorate the 150th birthday of German philosopher Rudolph Steiner from the Goetheanum, Switzerland, as well as a full orchestral work for the Laufen Symphony Orchestra.
Polivios has founded a chamber music group called the Evestrum Ensemble, which has performed his works in Toronto and in Europe, featuring as a special guest artist Chitravina N Ravikiran, perhaps India’s most cherished living musician, and many others.
Having received private sponsorship, Polivios relocated to Switzerland in 2009 in order to further his creative development. He currently resides in Germany, where aside from performing and composing, he is undergoing classical vocal instruction.
More information may be found at www.polivios.net
Program Notes
José Pablo Moncayo (1912 – 1958): Huapango
The young Moncayo earned his living playing jazz in Mexico City, and he was later appointed as conductor of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mexico. He was dedicated to showcasing Mexican music, mostly based on native folklore, and Huapango was one of his earliest compositions of this genre. Sixty years on, it remains popular in Mexico, almost as an unofficial national anthem.
The Huapango is a Mexican song form incorporating voice, dance, and instrumental accompaniment, originating in Veracruz. Its name has been variously described as a corruption of the word “fandango,” a contraction of "Huaxtecas" (the local tribe) and "Pango" (the name of a local river), or derived from a word meaning “the site where the wood is placed,” namely, the wooden planks for dancing. All these explanations are plausible – take your pick!
In Moncayo's brilliant orchestration, there is prominent scoring for percussion, and numerous solo opportunities, notably for trumpet, trombone, and harp. Latin rhythms are intertwined, with frequent syncopation and cross rhythms. The result has been described as being hit by “a triple tequila”!
Joaquín Rodrigo (1901 – 1999): Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra
I: Allegro con spirito II: Adagio III: Allegro gentile
Rodrigo, who had been blind since childhood, studied music in Paris, then returned to Spain after the Civil War, settling in Aranjuez, just south of Madrid. The city features a palace built by Philip II, and in which Scarlatti resided in the 18th century. The concerto, a colourful and somewhat exotic piece, represents an impassioned concept of the Spanish spirit. It was Rodrigo’s first composition for guitar, and it has remained one of his most immediately recognizable works.
In the opening movement, the guitar immediately introduces a flamenco rhythm (alternating 6/8 and 3/4 time), which is picked up by the orchestra. The famous adagio includes a dialogue between the English Horn and guitar, with contributions from the bassoon, oboe and trumpet. The final movement suggests a folk-song, or perhaps courtly dances in the palace of Aranjuez. The work requires constant virtuosity from the soloist, and a careful balance of the dynamics with the orchestra.
Alberto Ginastera (1916 – 1983): Suite from the Ballet Estancia, Op. 8
Los trabajadores agrícolas (The land workers)
Danza del trigo (Wheat dance)
Danza final (Malambo)
The ballet on which this work is based depicts life on a ranch (or estancia) in Ginastera’s native Argentina. The action takes place from dawn until the dawn of the following day. A city boy, who is working on the ranch and trying to compete with the cowboys (the gauchos), falls in love with a local girl, who is attracted to him once he has demonstrated his skill in horse taming.
Much of Ginastera’s music suggests the tuning and style of a gaucho’s guitar. The opening movement is in robust triple rhythms, and depicts the grinding work of the farm labourers. In contrast, the danza del trigo, beginning with a flute solo, conveys the blossoming romance.
In the Malambo folk dance, the city boy and the locals compete to demonstrate their abilities and manliness. There is a series of “rounds” in which the men try to out-do one another, at night before the camp fire. A fast trumpet solo is heard periodically, while the accompaniment becomes ever more elaborated. A tambourine riff depicts the awakening cicadas, and flutes twitter the bird’s chorus for a new day.
Enrique Granados (1867-1916): Oriental, from Danzas Españolas, Op. 37.
This is one of twelve dances composed originally for the piano, and of the three which have been orchestrated. The Danzas were often performed by Granados himself, who was a distinguished pianist of his time. The work is based on Spanish folk tunes, and represents an important contribution to the repertoire of Spanish national music.
Arturo Márquez (1950 – ): Danzón No. 2
The danzón form is Cuban in origin, but it has also become popular in Mexico. Márquez has written several symphonic danzónes to highlight the important role of dance in the urban music of his native Mexico. The danzón is a refined salon dance, related to the habañera and the tango. The basic rhythms are Afro-Cuban, with frequent switches between triplet and duple rhythm. This particular composition begins with an elegant main theme on the clarinet. The melody evolves then into more passionate rhythms, with a notable dissonant section for solo trumpet.
Program Notes ©: Stephen Walter