Bolero—Spanish classics from Bolero to Carmen at Kulturpalast Dresden

About the Event

Spanish passion and fiery rhythms – Sinfonia Leipzig, conducted by Knut Andreas, presents a musical journey through Spanish classical music – fiery, colorful, and full of emotion, crowned by Ravel's Bolero. In addition to the lively dances from Georges Bizet's opera Carmen, Gerónimo Giménez's spirited zarzuela overture La Boda de Luis Alonso will also be performed. Likewise, the Danza ritual del fuego from El amor brujo by Manuel de Falla transports the audience into the mystical world of Spanish folklore. Another highlight is Pablo de Sarasate's legendary Zigeunerweisen, whose virtuoso violin passages always elicit enthusiasm. The second part features Maurice Ravel's world‐famous Bolero, whose hypnotic rhythm and increasing intensity will put the audience into a trance. A first‐class orchestra conducted by Knut Andreas brings this exciting program to life.

Maurice Ravel—one of the leading figures of French Impressionism—wrote this famous orchestral piece as a commission for the French dancer Ida Lvovna Rubinstein. The Bolero captivates with its art of simplicity and plays – as the composer himself once said – with a single element of variation: the crescendo of the orchestra, which increases in volume over the course of the 15‐minute playing time. The piece was premiered with a group of dancers. With his unconventional compositional style for the time, Ravel paved the way for later avant‐garde movements in music.