‘Habanera’ CD Launch Concert

Join us for an unforgettable evening of rich, evocative music, as renowned baritone Roderick Williams OBE and soprano Ana Beard Fernández launch Habanera: Music for Eight Cellos and Voice, a new CD released on SOMM Recordings. The programme explores the beauty and nostalgia of Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas brasileiras No. 5, and Williams’ original arrangements of Montsalvatge’s Cinco canciones negras, Falla’s Siete canciones populares, and two vocalises by Ravel and Rachmaninov respectively. A collection of three Spanish songs, and Proshchaj, Grenada! by Shostakovich, are arranged by Beard Fernández, bringing a new dimension to these folk-inspired pieces. Under the baton of conductor Will Vann, the performance features the exceptional Endellion Cellists, including Joely Koos, Wallis Power, Bethan Lloyd, Katie Tertell, Iain Hall, Doraly Gill, Seth Collin, and Roderick Williams. Set within the stunning acoustics of St Clement Danes Church, this promises to be a unmissable launch concert, blending the power of the voice with the deep resonances of the cello.

Heitor Villa-Lobos | Bachianas brasileiras No. 5

Xavier Montsalvatge | Cinco canciones negras (arr. R. Williams)

Manuel de Falla | Siete canciones populares (arr. R. Williams)

Maurice Ravel | Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera (arr. R. Williams)

Sergei Rachmaninov | Vocalise Op. 34, No. 14 (arr. R. Williams)

Dimitris Shostakovich | Proshchaj, Grenada! Op. 100, No. 1 (arr. A. Beard Fernández)

Henri du Bailly | Yo soy la locura (arr. A. Beard Fernández)

(Anon.) | So el encina (arr. A. Beard Fernández)

Xoan Montes | Negra sombra (arr. A. Beard Fernández)

Jean-Philippe Rameau | Les Indes galantes: ‘Forets paisibles’ (arr. A. Beard Fernández)

This is an ILAMS event organised with the kind support of St Clement Danes Church and Somm Recordings