Ravel, Falla & Ortiz

Ravel expert Gustavo Gimeno taps into his Hispanic heritage and love for the French composer during a special night of romance, Spanish and Mexican rhythms, and more. On one half of the program, Gimeno pairs the dream-like melodies and triumphant buildup of Daphnis et Chloé and Rapsodie espagnole. With a “healthy dose of Iberian blood, sweat, and sexiness…Gimeno [is] the perfect guide through the hypnotic haze” (Bachtrack). On the other half, Venezuelan trumpet wizard Pacho Flores returns to the LA Phil with Altar de Bronce, a concerto “tailor-made” for him by Grammy-winning composer Gabriela Ortiz. While the piece is noted for its tension, drama, and opportunities to improvise, Bachtrack writes that it’s “the infectious dance rhythms of popular Mexican bands that [come] to the fore, Flores swaying along with the music.” Gimeno and the orchestra kick off the concert with a bang, eliciting the bewitching flamenco flair of Falla’s El amor brujo.