Harpist Verena Jochum is both a musician and a storyteller. For the last year we’ve been working together to prepare the world premiere of the solo version of “Soñando en Español” — a 3-Movement suite for harp, which Verena will present this weekend.
It’s not just Verena’s powerful, evocative playing that made me so excited to work with her – although the first time I saw her play I was mesmerized. She’s also a story-teller who combines a virtuosic performance with a dramatic spoken adaptation of the 3 stories that underly the 3 movements of the piece.
I always imagined that these stories could be told together with the music, but Verena is the first to actually develop the work for performance in this way and it’s been so exciting to work with her on it and watch it take place.
The first story, “My Mother’s Mexican Hat,” tells of a young girl who falls in love with a brave, daring, magical sombrero, and imagines that if only her young single mother could fall in love with it too, it might become her stepfather she longs for.
In the second story, “Merceditas,” that girl is a young woman falling shyly and deeply in love for the first time, waltzing with her sweetheart not in a ballroom but in a kitchen.
In the 3rd story, “Baroque Flamenco” she is a mature woman, in all her power, who now embodies the daring and drama of the sombrero’s powerful rhythms, as a Flamenco dancer – and discovers she also has the hat’s magical ability to transport people through music and rhythm.
From the program
Verena’s magnificent and captivating playing makes her harp sound like an entire orchestra.
The focus of the evening is Deborah Henson-Conant’s concert “Soñando en Español”. Each movement of the concert is based on a short story.
Verena Jochum’s captivating and extraordinary arrangement combines the stories with romantic, dreamy parts and fiery, percussive and virtuoso passages.
In addition to the discovery of romance and love, the power of passion is set to music and rhythm.
An event in cooperation with the Schinkelkirche Bischmisheim.
Event Details
Type: Concert
Location: Schinkelkirche Kirchstraße, 66132 Saarbrücken-Bischmisheim – Germany
Date: Sep 15, 2024 | 5 PM CEST
Fee: Free admission
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