The soul of Spain

Spanish pianist Abel Soto Martel will be performing at Sagrestia Vault, Valletta Waterfront, on March 23 at 7.30 p.m.

Martel will perform music for which he feels such a great affinity: Spanish music and music related to Spain.

The first part of the programme will be dedicated to the music of Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), a Spanish composer who is considered to be one of his country’s best classical composers.

Albéniz’s music shows his love for the Spanish country and landscape, and wants to express all the richness of aromas, colours and reflections of this land. Martel will perform Albéniz’s Cádiz, Asturias, Evocación and Almeria.

These will be followed by Manuel Castillo’s Toccata; Manuel Castillo’s style is very close to nationalism which later evolved to more universal and modern forms.

The second part of the programme will be dedicated to Fredric Chopin, a Pole by birth who spent most of his adult life in France.

Chopin had also very strong emotional ties with Spain, as he spent some months in Majorca together with George Sand and her two children in the hope of improving his deteriorating health. The party of four then went to Barcelona and to Marseille until May 1839.

In fact, the winter in Majorca is still considered one of the most productive periods in Chopin’s life.

Martel will be performing Chopin’s The Four Ballades: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, Ballade No. 2 in F, Op. 38, Ballade No. 3 in A flat, Op. 47, and Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52.

Martel was born in Jerez de la Frontera, in the south of Andalusia. At an early age he showed special sensitivity and skills for music.

After completing his professional piano music studies in Cádiz, he met famous pianist and professor Ana Guijarro at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Manuel Castillo in Seville, who conducted and consolidated his future pianistic development.

Martel further developed his musical education by participating in courses with Carlos Calamita, Ramón Coll, Estéban Sánchez and Frederic Gevers. He has performed throughout Andalusia and Spain and abroad.

From his vast repertoire, Abel has lately been focusing his programmes on Spanish music. He offers and reveals the rich styles and periods of Hispanic composers from the last century, namely Albéniz, Castillo, Falla and Mompou.

‘Soul of Spain’ is organised by Barocco Cultural Events. To book call 7968 0952 or e-mail bookings@baroccomalta.com.