Concert
Gypsy Guitar
Mon, Oct 15, 7pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

Historical tour of flamenco at the Biblioteca

The roots of flamenco have evolved in southern Spain from many sources: Morocco, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Greece, and other parts of the near and Far East. How exactly they came together as flamenco is a subject of great debate and a very interesting story.

Gypsies from the south of Spain have created this music since their arrival in Spain in the fifteenth century. It is widely accepted that they came from Sind, a northern region of India, now Pakistan. They left in several waves because of invasion and wars with foreign conquerors. The tribes of Sind moved to Egypt until they were thrown out. They then left for Czechoslovakia, but they knew that they were not going to be welcomed anywhere because of their numbers so they decided to divide themselves in three groups that moved to different parts of Europe. The first document to register the arrival of gypsies to Spain is from 1447.

The Moors had occupied Spain, and particularly the south, for about 800 years. Science, economy and culture flourished in a rich mixture of cultures. During this time the predecessor of the flamenco guitar was introduced and developed. It is believed that the word “flamenco” is a mispronunciation of the Arabic words felag (peasant) and mengu (fugitive). It is known that flamenco began to be synonymous for “Andalusian gypsy” in the eighteenth century. “El Javi” Estrada plays all the Gypsy tradition.

Classical guitar duo to honor Andres Segovia
By B.K. Lake

Concert
Pedro Soto and Javier Castillo
Sun, Oct 21, 5pm
St. Paul’s Church
Cardo 6
150/50 pesos

The acclaimed guitar duo of Pedro Soto and Javier Castillo present a concert October 21 as part of their homage in Europe and Mexico to the twentieth anniversary of the death of Andres Segovia, considered the father of modern classical guitar.

Both born in Monterrey, Soto and Castillo opened their international tour in their native city, then presented concerts in Spain, where Segovia was born in 1893, and France, Italy and England before returning to Mexico for more appearances.

Considered the foremost guitarist of his time, Segovia’s concert success also is credited with inspiring many contemporary composers to write guitar pieces. He continued giving concert performances past the age of 90.

Soto and Castillo have played together as a guitar duo since 1978, giving recitals in international concert halls and on radio and TV programs. Their San Miguel concert, part of the Pro Musica series, includes compositions by Segovia, Ferdinando Carulli, Georg Philipp Telemann, Johannes Brahms, Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, Julio César Oliva and Robert Schumann.

Soto moved to London in 1981 to continue his studies at the London College of Music with the guitar players and composers Julian Byzantine, Robert Brightmore and Gilbert Biberian. Soto also has taken classes with contemporary masters of the guitar John Williams, Leo Brower and Angel Romero. He has recorded five commercial CDs and has played solo with chamber groups and symphony orchestras in Mexico and in Europe. His repertory and versatility have made him musician of choice by Televisa to record music for many of their shows and TV series. 

Castillo studied in Monterrey for degrees in Spanish literature and music under composer Ramiro Luis Guerra and guitarist Isidro Garcia. He also moved to London where he received instruction under Julian Byzantine and took classes with Brower and Romero. Castillo directs the music education program “Música Continua,” work for which the Televisa foundation honored him with a special award.

Tickets at are available at La Tienda in the Biblioteca, Insurgentes 25; Casa de Papel, Mesones 57; La Conexión, Aldama 3, and St. Paul’s office weekdays 11am to 2pm and at the door one hour before concert time. For details see www.promusica.com. 

Opera baritone at Ángela Peralta
By Benjamín Herrera


Concert
Carlos Sanchez
Fri, Oct 12, 7pm
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Mesones 82
200/150/100 pesos

Baritone Carlos Sanchez has sung in important opera venues at the national level as well as the international, where excellent quality has brought him recognition not only in Querétaro, but in all of Mexico.

The Friday concert features different composers, styles, sounds, melodies and memories, but with a unified interpretation. Sanchez evokes latitudes, atmospheres, intensities and emotions, transcending the borders of time and forgetfulness.

The concert is a rich collection of arias and songs that have transcended the years. Sanchez’s voice counts on a tessitura (complete range) of baritone and can be achieved only with long years of study with recognized figures of the opera like Eugene Khon, Renata Scotto and Ileana Cotrubas. Khon is a teacher in New York and conducts the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Italian soprano Scotto teaches at her own academy in Italy and New York since retiring from the stage in 2002. Romanian soprano Cotrubaş retired in 1990, but continues to teach master classes and coaches promising young singers.