Talk: 150th Anniversary of Manuel De Falla
Wednesday 1st April, 6pm
The life of Spanish composer Manuel de Falla was as compelling as his music. From his birthplace in Cádiz to his years in Madrid, Paris, Granada, and Córdoba (Argentina), his journey was shaped by both creativity and sorrow. Renowned musician, researcher, and writer Antonio Hernández uncovers new insights into the life and legacy of this iconic figure in this fascinating talk.
Tickets: £6
Running Time: 60 minutes
Age Rating: 12+
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Recital – Violin on fire
Wednesday 1st April, 8pm
Spanish violin music offers a rich tapestry of styles, blending folk and classical traditions while drawing influence from flamenco and popular music. Its expressive range even finds unexpected echoes in the works of non-Spanish composers like Rachmaninoff and Bartók. At once virtuosic and emotionally resonant, this music is as complex as it is accessible.
Programme
Plegaria by Sergei Rachmaninov (arr. Fritz Kreisler)
Danzas rumanas by Béla Bartók
Danza con bastones – Baile de cintura – Danza estampida – Danza de la trompeta – Polka rumana – Danza rápida
Serenata andaluza * by Manuel de Falla (piano solo)
Danza española, Op. 21 No. 2 by Pablo Sarasate
Introducción y Rondó caprichoso by Camille Saint-Saëns
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Tickets: £18, Students £8
Running Time: 45 minutes
Age Rating: 12+
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Talk and Book launch – Breezes of Spain
Thursday 2nd April, 5pm
Discover a Hidden Treasure of Spanish Piano Music
It may come as a surprise, but some of the greatest Spanish piano music ever composed came not from Spain – but from an Austro-Hungarian musician, Óscar de la Cinna.
In the spirit of Pablo Sarasate, who elevated Spanish folk melodies through the violin, de la Cinna brought them to life on the piano with stunning originality and emotional depth. His music transforms popular Spanish themes into sophisticated, expressive masterpieces—works that deserve a place alongside the finest in the Spanish classical tradition.
And yet, until now, his extraordinary compositions have remained in the shadows. Never performed, never recorded, never celebrated.
This beautifully illustrated book changes that. For the first time ever, it brings together:
The first biographical notes on Óscar de la Cinna
A carefully compiled list of his known works
And most exciting of all: the world premiere recording of his Spanish piano music, presented on two professionally produced compact discs
Whether you’re a classical music lover, a pianist, or a collector of rare repertoire, this is a landmark release that shines a light on an unjustly forgotten composer—and reveals a vibrant, previously unheard chapter in the story of Spanish music.
Tickets: £6
Running Time: 45 minutes
Age Rating: 12+
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Recital – Piano on Silk
Thursday 2nd April, 6pm
Spanish piano music captures the essence of the country, evoking its landscapes, its traditions, and the vibrant identity of its dances and songs. Although Spain has sometimes been considered a minor country in classical music, its piano repertoire is fascinating and diverse, revealing influences from the guitar (with its strumming and plucking) and incorporating rhythmic and harmonic elements from styles as diverse as flamenco, jota, and habanera.
Programme:
Antonio Soler – Sonata R.15 in D minor
Antonio Soler – Sonata R. 118 in A minor
Antón García Abril – Sonatina I. AllegrettoII. AriettaIII. Finale
Enrique Granados – Goyescas “Love and Death”
Manuel de Falla – Fantasia Baetica
Piano: Rodrigo López
Tickets: £18, Students £8
Running Time: 45 minutes
Age Rating: 12+
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Spanish Festival of Music & Dance: Concert – Cadiz
Thursday 2nd April, 8pm
Dancer and choreographer Ailen Ramos – recently seen in performances with Northern Ballet across the UK, including at Sadler’s Wells – joins acclaimed violinist Rezart Kapetani and pianist José Vicente Riquelme for an unforgettable evening infused with Spanish passion.
Programme
Act One
Solo Piano – Cádiz de Isaac Albéniz
Piano: José Vicente Riquelme
Dance, Violin and Piano – Intro e Allegro de la Sonata nello stille antico espagnuole by Joaquín Cassadó
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Dance: Ailen Ramos
Choreography: Ailen Ramos
Violin and Piano – Spanish popular suite by Inzenga/Hurtado/Ocón/Lafuente/ Falla Paño moruno – Asturiana – Jota
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Piano: José Vicente Riquelme
Dance, Violin and Piano – Romanza andaluza Opus 22 nº 1 from Spanish dances by Pablo Sarasate
Dance: Ailen Ramos
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Choreography: Ailen Ramos
Solo Piano – Serenade espagnole by Mily Balakirev
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Act Two
Solo Piano – La Cachucha Opus 36 divertimento brillante by Friedrich Burgmüller
Piano: José Vicente Riquelme
Dance and Piano – Prière et boléro Opus 22 (Grande scène espagnole) by Jacques Offenbach
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Dance: Ailen Ramos
Choreography: Ailen Ramos
Solo Piano – Variation de Quiteria’s Variation and Bolero from the ballet “Don Quixote” by Ludwig Minkus
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Violin and Piano – Spanish popular suite by Inzenga/Hurtado/Ocón/Lafuente/ Falla Paño moruno – Asturiana (*) – Jota
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Piano: José Vicente Riquelme
Dance, Violin and Piano – Carnaval from Spanische tänze Op.54 by David Popper
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Piano: Jose Vicente Riquelme
Dance: Ailen Ramos
Choreography: Ailen Ramos
Tickets: Front row seats £26, General Admission £22
Running Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes, including an interval
Age Rating: 12+
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Family Concert – Ferdinand and the Little Bull
Friday 3rd April, 11:30am
Bilingual family concert
“The story of Ferdinand” music by Alan Ridout (1934-1996)
words by Munro Leaf (1905-1976) illustrated by Robert Lawson (1892-1957)
“The story of Ferdinando” was written by the American Munro Leaf for his friend the illustrator Robert Lawson in 1936. It is not an anti-bullfighting tale, but rather one of pacifist values at a time when warmongering and fascist currents emerged in Europe.
Although it was banned in Spain and Nazi Germany, the book was translated into more than 60 languages. The book gained popularity when it was adapted by Walt Disney for an animated film, for which it won a Hollywood Academy Award.
The music of the English composer Alan Ridout, written for solo violin, tenderly illustrates the different episodes of this simple story that contains great messages such as respect for people who are different and a peaceful attitude in situations of provocation or violence.
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Narrator:
Tickets: Family £20, admits four, Adults £8, Kids £6
Age Rating: 4+
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Spanish Festival of Music & Dance: Concert – Granada
Friday 3rd April, 8pm
Join celebrated dancers Yoel Vargas and Lucía Ramírez for a spellbinding performance that brings the passion and elegance of Spanish dance to life. This concert is the only one in the festival to feature both a male and female dancer, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full expressive range of Spanish classical dance.
They are joined on stage by the acclaimed José-Vicente Riquelme (piano) and Rezart Kapetani (violin).
The evening pays tribute to composer Manuel de Falla, exploring how his time in Granada shaped some of his most iconic and emotionally resonant works.
Don’t miss this unforgettable fusion of music, movement, and Andalusian spirit.
Dance: Yoel Vargas and Lucía Ramírez
Piano: José-Vicente Riquelme
Violin: Rezart Kapetani
Tickets: Front row seats £33, General Admission £27
Age Rating: 12+
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