The Embassy of Spain in the Philippines will present “Suite Española” (Spanish Suite), an original performance which combines classical music and flamenco singing in search of a common ground, on June 7, 7:30 p.m., at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Admission is free.
In “Suite Española,” a classical pianist and a flamenco singer mix piano scores with flamenco songs, exploring both worlds, looking for their roots and freely interpreting the compositions of Granados, Albéniz and Falla.
Performers are classical pianist Rosa Torres-Pardo and flamenco singer Rocío Márquez Limón.
Torres-Pardo was born in Madrid. She received the Masterplayers Award in Lugano (Switzerland) in 1986 and successfully debuted at the Teatro Real de Madrid in 1987, performing Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has also worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with conductors such us Spivakov, Dutoit, Fournet, Vasary and Termikanov. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, Wigmore Hall and Sadlers Wells in London, St. Petersburg Philharmonia and Konzerthaus in Berlin and Knopf Music Halle in Hamburg.
Limón was born in Huelva (Spain) in 1985. She began singing when she was a child but started receiving formal training at the age of 9.
She has performed at the Olympia in Paris, International Auditorium in Brussels, Dusseldorf Opera House, Sete Sóis Sete Luas Festival in Oeiras (Portugal), Mohammed V National Theater in Rabat and Silk Road Festival in Damascus.
One of her latest projects is the recording of “La Vida Breve” (Short Life) of Manuel de Falla with the Spanish National Orchestra.
“Suite Española” is one of the activities in connection with the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day on June 30. Throughout the month of June, the Embassy of Spain, in collaboration with several Philippine public and private institutions, will organize a series of activities that highlights the historical and cultural ties between the two countries.