Music / Passion – Five Centuries of Spanish Music, Marcela Fiorillo. At Wesley Music Centre, March 28. Reviewed by ROB KENNEDY.

This piano recital journeyed across five centuries of Spanish music, from transcriptions on Sephardim music to the fiery spirit of modern Spanish composers.

I last reviewed Marcela Fiorillo almost 10 years ago, then, I said she “gave a concert of thrilling piano music”, still, she can thrill her audiences.

Opening with two anonymous works from the 15th century, titled Nani Nani and Una Pastora yo ami, both sounded like songs. They were sad, introspective pieces that had quite a contemporary feel to them. They were transcriptions for keyboard on J Rodrigo versions. 

Then works by two monks. Padre José Gallés and Padre Antonio Soler y Ramos. Sounding like harpsichord works, Fiorillo played both with great accuracy and a feel for how harpsichord music should be transcribed for a modern piano. Both light and airy.

Then on to several works by Isaac Albeniz. The instantly recognisable Spanish style sets its music against other nations with such a distinctive flair, it’s impossible to mistake. Firstly, it entertains. It’s danceable and full of movement and contrasting styles that all hang together.

Fiorillo’s playing captures the nature and warmth of this music with a distinct passion. While not a showy performer, her style sits forefront while letting the music be heard for what it is through to her audiences. For most of the concert she performed without sheet music, though there was a tangle in one work, it didn’t detract from the overall nature of the piece.

On to Enrique Granados, a movement from his amazing Danzas Españolas, the Oriental. A romantic style that showed his love of country and a deep expression of Te Amo, deep love, which was all wrapped in that distinctive Spanish style.

Joaquin Turina’s Danzas Fantásticas, the Orgia followed. This is music that any contemporary composer would be ecstatic to have written. From a seemingly mystical beginning, it moves to a showy, dance-like construction rushing from note to note while crossing interweaving styles. And yes, it was fantastic. 

To finish the program, the fiery Flamenco of Manuel de Falla. Several works were performed starting with his Serenata Andaluza and finishing with the Danza Ritual del Fuego. Perhaps the most important of composers on the program, the quality of his compositions announced themselves with surety and excellence. 

Passion wrapped in brilliance best describes these works. Each owning an individual sound and quality. But the final work breathed fire and passion. This is music that stirs the blood and boils it. The orchestral version can knock a listener over.

With an encore and throughout the concert, Fiorillo showed how attuned she is to this music that flows through her Argentinian blood.