Zarzuela concert to be broadcast next week

The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society will be presenting a Zarzuela Concert, featuring Raquel Lojendio, soprano, Javier Franco, baritone, and Ramon Grau, pianist next week.

The concert is sponsored by the Kusuma Trust Gibraltar and will be broadcast by GBC on April 28 at 9.30pm.

The concert will be with no public audience and was recorded at the Convent Ballroom on April 15 in line with the past Covid-19 restrictions.

“This concert has been managed, at very short notice, and is of the highest calibre Zarzuela Concert,” the Society said.

“The three artists are amongst the most acclaimed artists in the world in this repertoire. They have established themselves as the ‘singers of reference’ in this genre and are a permanent fixture at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, which is considered the ‘temple’ of Zarzuela in the world.”

Ramon Grau is the main solo pianist of the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid and is considered a leading specialist pianist in this genre.

"We are delighted to support the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society by sponsoring this Zarzuela concert,” Peter Isola, Trustee of Kusuma Trust Gibraltar, said.

“Despite the challenges and restrictions created by Covid, Kusuma Trust recognises the importance of promoting classical music within our community, and the value in supporting broader cultural events that allow us to experience and appreciate the diversity of our community."

James Lasry, Chairman of GPS, added that he is extremely pleased that the Society and Maestro Chichon have managed to secure this top class concert at these times.

“We have done it and we will carry on providing top quality music for our community,” he said.

Raquel Lojendio has built up an extensive repertoire, which spans composers as diverse as Bach, Mozart and Wagner.

She has worked with conductors such as Sir Neville Marriner and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos.

Javier Franco has won international vocal contests such as the 'Francisco Viñas' in Barcelona, and 'Francisco Alonso' in Madrid.

During his career he has worked in many opera houses and concert halls such as the Teatro Real de Madrid and Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.

Mr Grau has earned several awards in Spanish National Piano Competitions such as first prize in XXV National Piano Competition “Marisa Montiel”.

From 2013 to 2017 Mr Grau worked as a piano accompanist at Katarina Gurska High School of Music in Madrid.