Hispanic Society Museum & Library
Join Spanish pianist Antonio Galera for the 2025 Hispanic Society Concert Series, which establishes relationships between the museum collections and artists from different fields, in continuous dialogue with the piano.
Thursday, February 27th, 2025 6 – 8 pm
Concert Series Part I: Cordes | American Academy of Arts and Letters Library
The richness of Hispanic classical music lies in its deep integration of folklore, guitar, and flamenco, creating a unique language that merges the popular with the academic. Composers such as Falla and Albéniz in Spain, and Ginastera in Argentina, drew inspiration from popular dances and songs, incorporating techniques like tremolos and strumming in their piano compositions to evoke the distinctive sound of the guitar.
In Falla and Albéniz, the cante jondo and flamenco styles, with their rhythmic and emotional depth, also influenced their works, adding expressive intensity and a distinctive cultural identity that enriched classical music and inspired contemporaries like Debussy. This influence continues to resonate in new repertoire, where echoes of these traditions remain present.
Antonio Galera delves into the music of composers from his hometown, Valencia, whose references to both local folk songs and the guitar are evident in an exercise of transcription. These pieces form the foundation of his upcoming album, set to be released this spring: Cordes, the Valencian word for “strings”, referring both to the guitar and the piano, as well as the connections that bind together the carefully selected pieces.
For this first project, Antonio has invited Lori Cohen, a member of the HSM&L board, along with curator and art collector Christopher Rothko. Together, they will introduce Antonio Galera and provide context for the pieces performed in the recital.
