On Saturday, February 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Helena Civic Center, the Helena Symphony Orchestra presents the timeless world of dream-like Spain and the nationally-noted flamenco company, Solero Flamenco, including flamenco guitarist, singer, dancer with castanets, and cajón (box drum) player. Together with the Helena Symphony Orchestra, Solero Flamenco will feature the gypsy-inspired music of Spain.
“This is a perfect concert for the month of Valentine’s Day,” says Director of Patron Services Scott Kall. “Solero Flamenco and the HSO bring the sensual dancing, thrilling strumming of the guitar, and exotic, ethnic singing of this art form that is rarely seen in this part of the country. It makes for an unforgettable evening of tragic passion and beautiful romance.”
Founded by Flamenco Singer Irma La Paloma and Guitarist Jeremy Garcia, Solero Flamenco is Houston’s premiere flamenco performance company, performing and touring in Houston and the region often, and collaborating with internationally-acclaimed artists. They also co-founded the Houston Spanish & Flamenco Festival in collaboration with San Jacinto College and the Consulate General of Spain in Houston. The Festival provides educational, artistic, and cultural opportunities for art students, lovers of flamenco, and the general public.
The all-Flamenco concert features music of legendary Spanish composers, including Joaquín Rodrigo’s hypnotic Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar solo and orchestra, Isaac Albéniz’s sensual and fiery Suite Española, Manuel de Falla’s gypsy love story El Amor Brujo (Love, the Magician), and other works. Most of the works include guitar solo, flamenco singer, or flamenco dancer with castanets. The HSO will also perform a newly composed work by Guitarist Jeremy García based on folk themes and flamenco music from southern Spain. Solero Flamenco will also perform without the HSO on part of the concert and really showcase the art of flamenco.
“This truly is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness this concert,” stresses Maestro Allan R. Scott. “This is where music is meant to be seen and experienced, and not just heard. From feet-stomping and palm-clapping to the musical utterances and cheers of the singer and dancer, we are transported to an incredible sense of love and loss, beauty and pain, and it is simply wonderfully exhilarating and so much fun.”
In addition to their performance with the HSO on February 25, Solero Flamenco will record a special broadcast (and podcast) for Montana Public Radio in Missoula hosted by Maestro Scott, and will also, provide a campus-wide presentation at Carroll College on Friday, February 24.
Tickets can be purchased on line at helenasymphony.org, by calling the Symphony Box Office (406.442.1860), or in person at the Symphony Box Office located on the corner of Broadway and the Walking Mall in the Livestock Building (2 N. Last Chance Gulch, Suite 1) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Single concert ticket prices range from $52 to $12.
Season tickets are also on sale for the 2017-2018 Season; and current subscribers can renew their seats throughout February, and new subscribers can get tickets starting March 3.