Concert 1 & 2 – Instituto Cervantes (Oct. 17 2024) & Resonanzraum (Nov. 9 2024) – Hamburg, Germany
Of War and Hope
The concert series refers to the painting of the same name by Pablo Picasso. The critic Robert Hughes described Guernica as the last great historical painting and represents an artistic high point of the 20th century. Guernica is a Basque town destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. On the one hand, the painting illustrates the horrific, incomprehensible human suffering caused by wars and, on the other hand, the hope for a speedy end.
http://hamburg-dialogues.com/hamburg-dialogues-v-2024/
Concert 3 – Philharmonie Berlin (Nov. 13 2024) – Germany
Iberoamerican Dialogues
Sinfonietta VivazzA, Eddie Mora conductor / Lux Nova Duo: Jorge Paz Verastegui, guitar; Lydia Schmidl, accordion / Jorge Herrera Santander, guitar; Pamela Coats, clarinet. Works by David del Puerto, Ismael García Daganzo, Gabriel Estarellas, Sérgio Assad, Eddie Mora and Darwin Aquino.
https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/concert/calendar/56075/
Madrid: Nuevo Teatro Alcalá (Dec. 2 2024)
Iberoamerican Dialogues
Sinfonietta VivazzA, Eddie Mora conductor / Lux Nova Duo: Jorge Paz Verastegui, guitar; Lydia Schmidl, accordion / Jorge Herrera Santander, guitar; Pamela Coats, clarinet. Works by David del Puerto, Ismael García Daganzo, Gabriel Estarellas, Sérgio Assad, Eddie Mora and Darwin Aquino.
https://www.mundoclasico.com/articulo/42512/Iberoamerican-Dialogues-una-puerta-a-la-creaci%C3%B3n-contempor%C3%A1nea-en-Madrid
Lux Nova Duo
Since the foundation of the Lux Nova Duo in the inspiring city of Barcelona in 2012 the German accordionist Lydia Schmidl and the Peruvian guitarist Jorge Paz Verastegui have been giving concerts internationally.
https://www.lux-nova-duo.com/en/home/
Vom Imaginatio Folkloricus 3.5
For Guitar, Piano Accordion & Chamber Ensemble
Commissioned by the Lux Nova Duo and the 2024 Dialogues V Festival, Hamburg, Germany.
Instrumentation:
Guitar, soloist
Piano Accordion, soloist
Ensemble:
Flute (Piccolo)
Clarinet (Bass Clarinet)
2 Violins
Viola
Violoncello
Double Bass
1 Percussionist:
- Claves
- Maracas
- Finger Cymbals
- Tambourine
- 2 Bongos
- 2 Cymbals (medium & large)
- Wood Block
- Glockenspiel
- Triangle
Program Notes
This work is inspired by the homage that the Dialogues V Festival renders to one of the most important paintings of the XX Century: Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. As a Caribbean creator, I could not stop thinking what would have happened if the Guernica would have visited my country, the Dominican Republic, with its anti-war message during its first international tour.
This is my imaginative story: When Guernica arrived to my island, it was not exhibited in an important building (like a museum, or cathedral), but in the Campos (country side) for the regular people. Two groups of folkloric music gradually arrived to honor it with two popular tunes: Salve and Palo Funerario. The Guernica was veiled when the first group, represented by a Piano Accordion solo, welcomed it with a tender Salve.
The music develops with cadences of the soloists and interactions of the ensemble, until the gathering is complete. At this moment the Guernica is unveiled and the music changes to reflect its pain and agony. The second group breaks in with an obstinate Palo Funerario, that spreads to all the instruments. After a moment of great exaltation, where the soloists and ensemble are requested to sing, the two groups collide in an expressive climax. A long silence is dedicated to the memory of the victims from the Bombing of Guernica (“que en paz descansen los muertos”).
After, the people start to leave. But one person remains, represented by the final singing of the soloists. A ritual loop softly ends the piece as the last person veils the Guernica again and leaves. When there is no sound left, my imaginary tale is complete.
Darwin Aquino / July 1 – August 13, 2024
Michigan, USA – Panama – St. Louis, USA – Viserba, Italy.