Symphonies of Angels & Demons
About the Event
The concert band in its most spectacular form, in expanded symphonic formation in all sections and performing two very recent works: one from North American Abigaña, premiering in 2015, and the other from Swiss composer Cesarini, premiering in 2016. The first work puts hell, purgatory and heaven as described by Dante to music and the second gives us insight into the different personalities of the archangels.
José Rafael Pascual‐Vilaplana was at the premier of The Archangels in Bilbao, under the baton of its author. A few days later, in Madrid, they changed roles: he conducted while the author listened. From that moment he wanted to bring it to Barcelona: “The sound of Cesarini’s music gets the listener's attention and communicates with them, it expresses human description and artistic beauty”. God’s messengers, the archangels, feature in Christianity, Judaism and Islam and take centre stage in this work with their contrasting characters: “The score is like a Swiss watch: precision made, full of skill whilst also providing beauty, serenity, elegance and class”.
Practical Information
ROQUE BAÑOS: Alatriste (fanfarria)
BRETT ABIGAÑA: Symphony No. 2, “Commedia”
FRANCO CESARINI: Symphony No. 1, The Archangels, Op. 50
Cast / Production
Barcelona Municipal Band
Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) Band
José R. Pascual‐Vilaplana, conductor
