For his final Bridgewater Hall concert as the BBC Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor, Juanjo Mena spirits us away to his Spanish homeland with three works that have long been close to his heart. To begin, a pair of pieces by Isaac Albéniz that sing of the South: the sun-soaked overture to The Magic Opal and the magnificently evocative Rapsodia española. After the interval, a rare treat: a concert performance of Manuel de Falla’s vibrant, stirring one-hour opera La vida breve (‘Life is Short’), a fitting way for Manchester to bid Juanjo a fond farewell.
PRE-CONCERT SPANISH DANCING
Flamenco and Salsa Dancers from Instituto Cervantes Manchester will perform in the cafe bar from 6.30-7pm!