PREVIEW NOTES

Pepe Romero, Friday, February 21 – 8:00 PM Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center

Background The second son of ’s “Royal Family of the Guitar," Pepe Romero is celebrated for his thrilling interpretations and flawless guitar technique. His contributions to the field of have inspired a number of distinguished composers, including Joaquín Rodrigo, , Francisco de Madina, and Lorenzo Palomo, to write works specifically for him. Mr. Romero has worked with almost every major conductor alive and has to his credit more than 60 recordings.

Program Fantasia in D Minor Homenaje: Le tombeau de Debussy Fernando Sor Manuel de Falla Born: February 14, 1778 in Barcelona, Spain Born: November 23, 1876 in Cadiz, Spain Died: July 10, 1839 in Paris, France Died: November 14, 1946 in Alta Gracia, Argentina Composed: c 1838 Composed: 1920 Duration: 13 minutes Duration: 3 minutes

Variation on I bin a Kohlbauern Bub Written months after Debussy’s death, the “homage to Mauro Giuliani Debussy’s grave” juxtaposes the sadness of the Born: July 27, 1781 in Bisceglie, Italy composer’s death with the light, exciting habañera Died: May 8, 1829 in Naples, Italy rhythms. Composed: 1814 Duration: 10 minutes Sonata a la Española Joaquín Rodrigo Famed Italian guitar virtuoso and composer Mauro Born: November 22, 1901 in Sagunto, Spain Giuliani started his musical studies on cello and Died: July 6, 1999 in Madrid, Spain counterpoint. He published more than 200 works; his Duration: 10 minutes most durable pieces include three lyrical concertos in a late Classical/early Romantic style, and, for solo guitar, Written in three movements, this work opens with a the Grand Overture, Op. 61, and a series of six rather peculiar staccato theme that is interrupted by a sometimes long‐winded suites, Le Rossiniane, based on repeated dissonant chord. The movement develops with tunes by Gioacchino Rossini. lyrical interpretations of the opening theme while always returning to the repeated chord. The second Gran jota movement features a melancholy theme centered on Francisco Tárrega the lower strings of the guitar. The closing movement Born: November 21, 1852 in Villarreal, Spain sits in stark contrast with the second and is a written in Died: December 15, 1909 in Barcelona, Spain the style of a bolero. Duration: 9 minutes Fantasía Sevillana Suite madrileña Joaquín Turina Celedonio Romero Born: December 9, 1882 in Seville, Spain Born: March 2, 1913 in Cienfuegos, Cuba Died: January 14, 1949 in Madrid, Spain Died: May 8, 1996 in San Diego, CA Composed: 1923 Composed: 1986 Duration: 7 minutes Duration: 15 minutes