Ballet Nacional de España returns to the Úbeda Festival

The Ballet Nacional de España announced in its presentation of the 2022–2023 season that, throughout the season, it would begin carrying out special collaborations with symphony orchestras. These collaborations would feature the participation of the company’s principal dancers and soloists. June has been chosen as the starting point for these collaborations.

The 35^th Úbeda Festival will see the presentation of a new program in which Spanish dance will accompany classical music in symphonic concert. On this occasion, the collaboration will be with the City of Granada Orchestra, conducted by Manuel Coves.

The chosen program consists of the overture to Cinderella by Fernando Sor, Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, and Manuel de Falla’s El sombrero de tres picos. The first work will be performed by the orchestra alone, while the last two will feature performances by dancers from the Ballet Nacional de España.

The new feature of this program is the world premiere of a new choreography for Concierto de Aranjuez, created by Rubén Olmo, director of the Ballet Nacional de España, and Miguel Ángel Corbacho, assistant director. Ballet Nacional de España already had in its repertoire a full ballet of Concierto de Aranjuez, choreographed by Pilar López. It was a ballet of pure classical Spanish dance that transported audiences to times gone by. On this occasion, Rubén Olmo and Miguel Ángel Corbacho have created a choreography in flamenco rhythm, seeking out those flamenco steps within the original score.

To close the program, El sombrero de tres picos has been included, a work that is already a classic of our repertoire. With this piece, the Ballet Nacional de España also joins the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso, who designed the set and costume sketches for TEl sombrero de tres picos. The choreography presented is by Antonio Ruiz Soler, with adaptation for the concert version by Maribel Gallardo, répétiteur of the BNE.

The Courtyard of the Hospital de Santiago in Úbeda will host the presentation of this program, which will also feature guitarist Rafael Aguirre and the collaboration of cantaora Gema Caballero.

The soloist dancers performing this program are Débora Martínez, Eduardo Martínez, Estela Alonso, Pilar Arteseros, Irene Tena, Carlos Sánchez, Cristian García, Álvaro Gordillo and Matías López.

After its presentation at the Úbeda Festival, this program can be seen on July 30^th, 2023, at the MUSEG Festival in Segovia.

PROGRAM

Soloist dancers of the Ballet Nacional de España
Director: Rubén Olmo
City of Granada Orchestra
Musical Director: Manuel Coves

Rafael Aguirre, guitar
Gema Caballero, cantaora

Cinderella, overture — orchestra only

Concierto de Aranjuez — world premiere, principal dancers and orchestra

El sombrero de tres picos — principal dancers and orchestra

Hospital de Santiago, Úbeda
June 2^nd, 2023, 10:00 p.m.