Pilar Alva Martín & Stefano Arena

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla, this programme presents Spanish art song of the twentieth century. The music moves between Andalusian folk traditions, French influences, and intimate chamber music. Love, loss, and longing recur throughout, in songs full of rhythm, colour, and direct emotion. At its centre are Falla’s famous Siete canciones populares españolas, alongside songs by his students and artistic contemporaries Valentín Ruiz-Aznar, Juan-Alfonso García, and Joaquín Turina.

Soprano Pilar Alva-Martín and pianist Stefano Arena have formed a duo since 2019. They specialise in twentieth-century Spanish repertoire and have performed at festivals in Granada, Geneva, and Lausanne, among others. Their project focusing on forgotten Spanish art songs won First Prize at the Lavaux Classic Competition in 2021.

This concert is made possible in part by the Embassy of Spain in The Hague.

Musicians

Pilar Alva Martín soprano

Stefano Arena piano