The San Diego Symphony took us on a trip to the Andalusian Plain of Southern Spain with a concert full of gypsies, flamenco dancers and romantic guitars.

The concert opened with Granados’ Tres danzas espanolas. The sweltering Spanish flavor of the evening was instantly present.

The best received performance of the night was Pepe Romero playing a composition by his father, Celedonio Romero.

This piece of music melted our hearts with it’s ernest romanticism. It was as if we were all with that Spanish lover we’ve always dreamed of. That lover who is both sophisticated and impetuous, passionate yet tender, insightful and light-hearted.

After intermission all four Romeros played Morton Gould’s Troubadour Music for Four Guitars. I’ve never been a Morton Gould fan and I was not swayed to his side by this piece.

The Troubadors started off stage and walked to their places while playing. They exited in the same manner. In between there was a lot of incredible musicianship displayed but Gould’s music is esoteric at best.

I think the audience was waiting to hear all four Romero’s play their guitars together but that moment never quite arrived in Gould’s music. There was an intricate and sophisticated conversation happening between the guitars but it was above my head.

The final piece of the concert was de Falla’s el amor brujo with international opera star Denyce Graves. Ms. Graves was a luxurious addition to a piece in which she only sang for an aggregate of five minutes or so.

The singing she did do was chesty and dark and seductive. The pink high heels which matched her wrap were also exquisite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auRUxPPqDcQ