The concert in the Serenates cycle arises from the adhesion from this group with the Cervantes Year celebration. Being the “Three Epitaphs”, opus 17, by Rodolfo Halffter, the programme backbone, it presents texts by Cervantes, in which the tombs of Don Quixote, Dulcinea and Sancho Panza are recalled. It is the only important choral work and one of the most spread ones from Halffter catalogue, according to Begoña Lolo, specialist in music based in Cervantes. From this, the programme titled “Poesia al cor” is built combining poems of the most representative Spanish poets, in which the Valencian presence is significant: Joaquín Rodrigo, Francesc Llàcer Pla, Javier Costa and César Cano.

Furthermore, the choir sings for the first time “Three Choral Pieces” by Cristóbal Halffter, and “Cantar de soledades” by Antón García Abril.

In this programme, the Valencian lyric is doubly present. First, through Joanot Martorell, who wrote a monologue of great poetic power for his character Tirant lo Blanc, used by Francesc Llácer Pla in 1972 for his “Lamentació d'amor de Tirant lo Blanc”. Second, we will listen to one of the most popular poets of our time, Miguel Hernández, in one of his most spread poems: “Onion Lullaby” accompanied by the music of Madrilean Manuel Seco d’Arpe, in one of his first compositions on 1978.

Joaquín Rodrigo released his “Tres canciones sefardíes del siglo XVI” in 1952 in Madrid. It is considered to be his first choral work and the text is based in anonymous works of the Spanish Renaissance, adapted by his wife Victoria Kamhi.

“Llama de amor viva” (2002) by Javier Costa, which opened the Generalitat Valenciana Choir, is based in San Juan de la Cruz, and was finalist in the Choral Composition International Competition in La Laguna City.  

“Rimas de amor y muerte” (op.42), by César Cano, dates back to 1999 and was released in Valencia by the Cámara AmaltheaChoir, who requested this work for its tenth anniversary. As the title suggests, it is based in Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer poetry.

In “Cantar de soledades” (1989). Antón García Abril used texts from Antonio Machado. The work is indirectly related to Valencian lands, since the author composed it for the Polyphony International Competition organised by Torrevieja’s Council.

Under the circumstantial title of “Three Choral Pieces” by Cristóbal Halffter, the three profane works from the “Six Choral Pieces” collection are collected. The composer gathered pieces from different origins, being most of them young. “Eres como la nieve” (1957) is based in a traditional Castilian song. We will also listen to “Don Diego sin don” and “El herido”, both from 1949, and based in poems from the book “Marinero sin tierra”.

Besides, the concert will have the performance of soprano soloist Susana Martínez-Cotillas, and the choir has the presence of tenor and actor José Enrique Requena, who will recite some poems before the reading.