United States Varied, ‘¡Hispania! A voyage from Spain to the Americas’: Sophia Burgos, Andréa Walker (sopranos), Alan Choo, Emi Tanabe (violins), Jeremías García (guitar), Sandi Bohl (castanets), Apollo’s Fireplace / Jeannette Sorrell (conductor and harpsichord). St. Bernard Catholic Church, Akron, 20.3.2024. (MSJ)

This, arguably, isn’t the discussion board for analyzing extra-musical concerns. However when there may be an elephant within the room, it could be silly to suppose it may be ignored. The elephant that attempted to crush this present was the misfortune of Apollo’s Fireplace concertmaster and assistant director Alan Choo, whose baroque violin was stolen every week and a half in the past throughout an Apollo’s Fireplace rehearsal. It’s agonizing for musicians when an instrument with which they’ve constructed their lives is stolen. Moreso, it’s an absurd crime: such a particular instrument is unsellable available in the market that may want it.

The theft had been broadcast broadly over the earlier week in regional media, conventional and social, and this was the primary live performance for the reason that incident wherein the viewers would see the ensemble. The turnout this night in Akron was at or close to capability, with the group expressing fervent assist for the ensemble (and Choo specifically). The group has been operating out to Akron for live shows from their house base of Cleveland for nearly thirty years.

By coincidence or design, the opening of this live performance of Spanish and Spanish-related music was daring. As an alternative of the same old upbeat primary may count on for a program of quite a few small works, Apollo’s Fireplace music director Jeannette Sorrell selected her personal association of the melancholy conventional Catalan ‘Track of the Birds’ to open. After a dusting of percussion and floor bass on the stage, a ripple went by way of the home when the primary melodic sounds got here from a violin, someplace deep at the back of St. Bernard’s cathedral. Anybody acquainted with the ensemble would have identified that this unhappy, despairing violin line was being performed by Alan Choo, on this event on a borrowed instrument. That voice was quickly echoed by Apollo’s Fireplace principal Emi Tanabe, additionally within the rear of the church. They regularly made their approach down the middle aisle in a wide ranging musical dialogue that coalesced as they approached the stage. Vocalists Sophia Burgos and Andréa Walker entered and led from the folksong into the non secular track ‘Santa Maria, Strela do Dia’.

It made for a strong and emotional opening. However because the live performance moved on to livelier numbers, a pall appeared to stay. One couldn’t assist however marvel on the degree of rigidity which remained for the gamers after one among their members was violated by theft. It should provoke worry and an abundance of warning, neither of which is conducive to spirited music-making. However these gamers are nothing if not skilled, and the anxious ambiance regularly thawed because the live performance progressed, with the same old smiles and camaraderie of the ensemble slowly showing and at last blooming throughout the Flamenco guitar efficiency of visitor soloist Jeremías García within the second half.

Constructing towards that launch of rigidity have been the solos and duets of sopranos Sophia Burgos and Andréa Walker. In signature type, Sorrell selected her singers with an ear for distinction, Burgos that includes a giant, dramatic sound and Walker bringing a candy, intimate voice. They blended exquisitely, dovetailing their phrases to provide one another moments to shine. Burgos was significantly fascinating within the Sephardic Ladino ballad ‘Nani, Nani’, the place a mom sings a lullaby to her little one whereas ready for her untrue husband to return from his lover. When Amanda Powell sang this track with Apollo’s Fireplace just a few years again, her rendition made its affect from the best way Powell may hover her statuesque voice in breathtaking method. Burgos made it her personal by pursuing an earthy, intense characterization of dialogue between husband and spouse.

Burgos additionally scored the outstanding feat of speaking Sorrell into programming an aria from Manuel de Falla’s opera La vida breve, and a moody Puerto Rican pop hit, ‘Lamento Borincano’. Although such jaunts are uncommon, the ensemble has voyaged into extra fashionable occasions earlier than, and Sorrell and principal cellist Rene Schiffer (on the de Falla) organized the items – each have robust roots within the Spanish people music that unites this program. The works match seamlessly.

Particular point out should be product of William Simms supporting García with vigorous taking part in of the vihuela, a small Spanish guitar of the Baroque interval, and of visitor castanet and hand-clap percussionist (and, at one level, dancer) Sandi Bohl. In no way least, percussionist Anthony Taddeo appeared decided to mild up the stage together with his very important pleasure, along with including impressed carry together with his rhythms. On this night, Taddeo began the spark that regularly unfold to his colleagues on stage, finally burning away the darkness.

Mark Sebastian Jordan

Conventional Catalan (arr. J. Sorrell) – ‘El Cant des Ocells’ (‘Track of the Birds’)
From the Cantigas de Santa Maria Codex (arr. J. Sorrell) – ‘Santa Maria, Strela do Dia’
Ortiz – 2 Recercadas
Encina – ‘Oy Comamos y Bebamos’
Martín y Coll – ‘Danza del Acha’
Falconieri – ‘Folias della Spagna’
Sanz – Guitar Solo
Conventional Peruvian (arr. J. Sorrell) – ‘Marizápalos’
Conventional Mexican (arr. J. Sorrell) – ‘Xacara’
Gutierrez de Padilla (ed. J. Sorrell) – ‘A la Xacara, Xacarilla’
Santiago de Murcia (arr. J. Sorrell) – ‘Gaitas’, ‘Fandango’
Conventional Flamenco – ‘Fandangos de Huelva’
Conventional Sephardic Ladino – ‘Nani, Nani’
Tárrega – ‘Capricho Árabe’
de Falla (arr. R. Schiffer & J. Sorrell) – ‘Vivan los que rien’ from La Vida Breve
Marín – ‘Lamento Borincano’
Arañes (arr. J. Sorrell) – ‘Un Saran da le Chacona’