Spanish Souvenirs: Flute and Harp Recital (Mosman)

The enchanting combination of flute and harp unites two of Australia's vibrant young soloists, Jonathan Henderson and Emily Granger, in a recital celebrating the rich heritage of Spain’s national dances and folk music. Redolent with Spanish motifs, two robust miniatures by Jacques Ibert and Alphonse Hasselmans beautifully evoke the flamenco guitar. Paris-dwelling composers Maurice Ravel and Emmanuel Chabrier yield elegant interpretations of the Habañera, owing to their long-standing admiration of Spanish culture from neighbouring France. A cornerstone of the Spanish Baroque, Les Folies d'Espagne of Marin Marais offers a suite of variations adapted for solo flute. At the heart of this recital sits a deeply evocative rêverie – Manuel De Falla’s melancholic Nocturno, and the widely popular Seven Spanish Folksongs, a cycle in strikingly diverse regional styles imbued with Hispanic flair. François Borne's Fantasie Brillante on Themes from Bizet’s Carmen spins the flute in virtuosic threads around a charming opera melody potpourris, not without the infamous Habañera, Chanson Bohème and beloved Toreador. This concert is approximately 60 minutes in duration, no interval with a reception to follow.