By Denise Lai
Pack your bags and passport, and get ready for a journey through the Hispanic world—from South America to Spain—in this exciting Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert!
Your trip begins in Peru with Jimmy López’s Perú Negro, a piece commissioned to celebrate the centennial season of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The spirited work pays homage to the Afro-Peruvian heritage of the composer’s native country, with sounds that connect to the Black culture of Peru. Using special instrumentation like the cajón, it incorporates harmonic elements of traditional folk songs and dances popular among the African slaves brought to Peru in the 16th century. López describes the piece as an assimilation of Peruvian folklore bearing the seal of his own musical language.
Next stop is Argentina, the birthplace of the tango. The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires has been described as the Argentinian counterpart to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Composer Astor Piazzolla was known for infusing the traditional tango with elements of jazz and classical music, resulting in a style called nuevo tango (new tango). Originally, Piazzolla created four separate pieces, each depicting a season, that were rarely performed together. In the late 1990s, Russian composer Leonid Desyatnikov reimagined the pieces in a more traditional concerto form, arranged them for solo violin and orchestra, and added elements from Vivaldi’s work. This piece will be brought to life by Japanese Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo, who has collaborated with Piazzolla’s long-time pianist, Pablo Ziegler, and is known for her interpretation of nuevo tango music.
Crossing the Atlantic, we reach our final destination of sunny Spain—the homeland of TSO Music Director Gustavo Gimeno—with the sizzling music of Carmen. One of the most beloved operas of all time, Georges Bizet’s iconic work is a titillating story of seduction, passion, and jealousy, set to a dramatic and evocative score. It is hard to believe that Carmen was poorly received during Bizet’s time, as critics thought the story and characters were too scandalous. Bizet died three months after the opera’s première, and never lived to see the immense success of his finest work. The two instrumental Carmen Suites, arranged by Fritz Hoffmann, are a hit parade of recognizable tunes, including “Habañera”, “Séguedille”, and “Chanson de toréador” (“Song of the Bullfighter”). The music of Carmen has been widely used in popular culture—you may have heard it in movies (Up, The Bad New Bears), TV shows (The Simpsons, The Muppet Show, Sesame Street), and even a Doritos commercial.
No TSO concert is complete without introducing audiences to a new or rarely performed piece. In fact, you will be the first to hear the World Première of a TSO Commission by its RBC Affiliate Composer, Liam Ritz. Dance Scenes from the Living Room “reimagines the freedom of dancing in one’s living room, lost within the music, carefree, and without inhibitions,” says Ritz. “It’s not just a celebration of that inner child, but an invitation to rediscover that same joy and freedom as an adult.” You will be amazed by Ritz’s ability to pack so many ideas into a piece that is merely eight minutes long!
Join the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall on April 25, 26, and 27, 2025, and be transported through the vibrant rhythm and colourful soundscapes of this celebración hispana. Get your tickets now at TSO.CA.