A Spanish Sunday morning: Thomas Beijer plays Falla

Spanish Sunday Morning
This Sunday morning, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra presents a Spanish program featuring music by Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Turina. These pieces bring together Spanish folk music, dance, and flamenco. Soloist Thomas Beijer occasionally makes the piano sound like a guitar; the Spanish passion is palpable. The program opens with Joaquín Turina’s most famous piece: theDanzas Fantásticas. In these three fantastic dances, the composer travels successively to Aragon, the Basque Country, and Andalusia.

Thomas Beijer performs Falla’s *
* Thomas Beijer is a true “Falla fan”: “Manuel de Falla is one of my favorite composers, and*Noches en los Jardines de España*is a magnificent piece. One could debate whether it is a piano concerto or a kind of symphonic poem with a prominent piano part. The refinement of French Impressionism, Spanish folk music, and flamenco come together beautifully, without being exotic. Like much Spanish music, Falla’s music is fiery—but his music glows more than it burns. Especially in these mysterious three nocturnes.” The orchestra concludes with Falla’s piquant and colorful ballet music from*El sombrero de tres picos*.