The chamber music group resident at Auditorio de Tenerife, Quantum Ensemble, is currently on tour in Spain with their show “Zíngaros” [Hungarian Gipsies]. The concert will be held on the island at 7:30 pm on Thursday, the 12th and it features Madrid viola player Cecilia Bercovich and Gran Canaria cellist Ángel Luis Quintana. They are both joining the members of the Tenerife ensemble -David Ballesteros, violin, Cristo Barrios, clarinet and Gustavo Díaz-Jerez, piano- in their tribute to Hungarian composers.

Quantum Ensemble started their tour on Monday, the 9th at Auditorio Fundación Ávila, to then continue on Tuesday at Círculo das Artes de Lugo, travelling to Gijón on Wednesday the 11, to finally end the week at Sala de Cámara of Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín with both guest musicians. As usual, there will be a pre-concert talk to discuss the repertoire, with David Ballesteros this time.

This programme pays homage to Gipsy-Hungarian music, through a selection of works representing the use some composers made of this fertile musical tradition. The identification of national popular music and Gipsy music was common in 19th century Hungary, as shown in the work of great composers like Franz Liszt. It was only in the early 20th century that ethno-musicological studies, as carried out among others by Béla Bartók, that both musical realities were differentiated, leading Hungarian musicians to reassess the relationship between both musical heritages.

The concert “Zíngaros” will start with Hungarian Rhapsody no. 9, S. 379 (Carnival in Pest) by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) to go on with Contrasts Sz. 111, BB 116 by Béla Bartók (1881-1945). After a break during which we’ll have the chance to chat with the musicians, the repertoire will end with Quartet in G minor nº 1, op. 25 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).

Tickets can be purchased here.

On Friday, the 13th Quantum Ensemble is giving a Performance Class, targeted at instrumentalists and singers, students at Conservatorio Profesional and Superior de Música de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, institutions that collaborate in this activity. The workshop starts at 6:00 pm and is given by Cristo Barrios. Its goal, among others, is to reflect on the role of the performer in the music creative process and the development of creative skills in students.