Conductor Mendes: "Falla Is Spain's Leading Orchestral Composer"

Conducting the National Symphony
Violin Solo by Leticia Moreno
Suites from "The Three-Cornered Hat" and "Interlude and Dance" from "La Vida Breve"

"Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) is a leading orchestral composer representing Spain. Although his works are not performed particularly frequently, he left behind some of the most notable orchestral pieces in Spanish music history. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of his birth."

Spanish conductor Antonio Mendes introduced Falla in this way. Mendes will take the podium for the National Symphony Orchestra's regular concert, to be held at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on August 7. The second part of the concert will feature works by Falla, including "Interlude and Dance" from the opera "La Vida Breve," and Suites Nos. 1 and 2 from the ballet "The Three-Cornered Hat."

Mendes explained that Falla actively incorporated elements of Spanish folk music into his compositions. He said, "La Vida Breve contains many elements of flamenco in particular," adding, "The music does not overtly reveal the feeling of flamenco, but it utilizes it in a highly sophisticated manner."

Antonio Mendez. National Symphony Orchestra

This concert is themed around Spain from the very first half. Orchestral works such as "España" by the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894) and "Symphonie Espagnole" by Édouard Lalo (1823-1892) will be performed.

Both pieces are works by French composers based on the theme of Spain. Mendes explained, "A significant portion of works that are considered Spanish music were actually written by foreign composers, including those from France."

The period from the late 19th to the early 20th century, when Falla was active, was marked by active exchange between the French and Spanish musical worlds. In fact, Claude Debussy, a composer representative of French Impressionist music, wrote several works inspired by Spain, including the orchestral piece "Ibéria" and "La soirée dans Grenade" from the piano suite "Estampes."

Mendes said, "Falla, too, was greatly influenced by French Impressionist music. At the time, Paris was the center of European music and the Paris Conservatory was highly renowned. Falla moved to Paris, where he met and interacted with Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and others."

Although Lalo’s "Symphonie Espagnole" has 'symphony' in its title, it is practically closer to a violin concerto. At this concert, a Spanish violinist will perform as a soloist.

Mendes mentioned that he knows Moreno well, as they have performed together on several occasions. He described, "He is a very famous violinist in Spain—both warm and passionate in his performances, with a particularly deep understanding of Lalo’s music."

The "Symphonie Espagnole" was dedicated by Lalo to the legendary Spanish violinist Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908). Mendes explained that while there are several pieces dedicated to Sarasate, "Symphonie Espagnole" is the most widely known among them.

Mendes first visited Korea in 2016, and this is his sixth visit. Over the past 10 years, he has collaborated with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the KBS Symphony Orchestra; now, with the National Symphony Orchestra, he has worked with all the major domestic orchestras.

He highly praised the skills of Korean orchestra members. Mendes stated, "The sound produced by Korean orchestra musicians is remarkably refined yet warm. Their passion for rehearsals is impressive, and their overall preparation is excellent, so we are able to focus on refining details from the very first rehearsal."

He also expressed his affection for Seoul and Korean culture. "I like Seoul so much that, except for summers as hot as this one, I would want to visit every year. I enjoy Korean food, I like Korean people, and I have deep respect for Korean culture," he said.

The enthusiasm of Korean audiences is also very impressive. "When a performance ends, thunderous applause erupts. Such explosive responses provide musicians with great comfort and strength."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.