Connecting Neoclassicism

Four neoclassical works by Falla, Hindemith, Halffter, and Stravinsky, key pieces in the chamber music repertoire, make up the program for this concert.

These composers chose to preserve and reinvent tonality, taking the classical canons of the 18th century as their reference point, in the midst of the human existentialist crisis that was experienced in the early decades of the 20th century.

Program
 

Paul Hindemith

Small Chamber Music Op. 24 No. 2

Lustig. Moderately fast quarter

Waltz. Very quiet throughout.

Quiet and simple

Fast quarters

Very lively

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and French Horn

Manuel de Falla

Concerto for harpsichord and five instruments

Allegro

Slow (joyful and energetic)

Vivace (flexible, playful)

Keyboard, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, and Cello

Ernesto Halffter

Pastoral letters

Quiet allegretto

Cadenza – Tranquillo

In moderate tempo

Key and flute

Igor Stravinsky

Octet

Symphony

Theme with variations

Finale

Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon I, Bassoon II, Trumpet I, Trumpet II, Trombone, and Bass Trombone

The early decades of the 20th century gave rise to a human existential crisis that translated into a creative explosion in the world of the arts. Multiple creative pursuits led to the coexistence of different avant-garde movements that pursued the same goal: to provide answers. Within this framework, the group known as Los Ocho de Madrid (The Eight of Madrid) aligned itself with the European scene, dividing its creation into two major compositional options: preserving tonality or destroying it. 

This concert explores the creations of Spanish and European composers who chose to preserve and reinvent tonality, taking the classical canons of the 18th century as their reference point. The four works performed are examples of neoclassical language, which is key to the chamber music repertoire. 

The program links Spanish neoclassical creation with its European counterpart, featuring compositions by Manuel de Falla, Igor Stravinsky, and Ernesto Halffter, who remain references of an era and a language, and Hindemith, considered one of the pioneers of musical modernism.

Beatriz Pomés

Beatriz is a flutist, researcher, and humanist. Born in Pamplona, she currently works in Spain, the Netherlands, and Australia.

She began her studies at the Pablo Sarasate Professional Conservatory in Pamplona and completed her Higher Degree at Musikene. She then moved to the Netherlands to pursue a Master's Degree in Musical Performance with flutist Leon Berendse and pedagogue Wilhelm van der Vliet. Throughout her training as a performer, she has been awarded several international prizes (UFAM 2002, 2003, 2004; Léopold Bellan 2004, 2006; International Chamber Music Competition with Harp, 2005). At the same time, she completed her Bachelor's Degree in Humanities at the University of Navarra.

She moved to Australia, where she completed her PhD in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne. Recently, she has been recognized by this university in the categories of performer and researcher.

Jesus Echeverria

He studied orchestral conducting at the Vienna Conservatory with Julius Kalmar and at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Sir Colin Davis and George Hurst. In 1988, he began working with the Navarre Symphony Orchestra and in 1989, with the Basque National Orchestra. During his stay in London, he founded The European Sinfonia and in 1995 toured the Basque Country with the Russian National Orchestra. He has conducted other orchestras such as the Latvian National Orchestra and has toured Japan and Poland with the Musikene Symphony Orchestra, where he is Professor of Analysis and Coordinator of Orchestral Studies.

Jesús Echeverría is also a renowned composer. Trained by Agustín González Acilu, Francisco Escudero, Tomás Marco, and Cristóbal Halffter, he has won numerous awards, including the Pablo Sorozábal Award (1999), the Joaquín Turina Award, and the Ciudat D'Alcoi Award (2000).

Currently, in addition to his teaching work at Musikene, he is the Principal Conductor of the La Rioja Symphony Orchestra.