Creating a Music Tradition for the 21st Century

Spaniard Marcos Galvany, a multi-talented, young and charismatic, 21st-Century classical composer, producer and FB resident will debut his first opera, Oh My Son, at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Saturday April 10, 2010 at 8 pm. Michael Rossi, Plácido Domingo’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program Assistant Conductor of the Washington National Opera, will be conducting the Oh My Son premiere accompanied by an ensemble of gifted, talented, and inspiring young musicians and singers: the New England Symphonic Ensemble, St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, and the fine soloists.

For those who have never been exposed to, or experienced, live opera, Oh My Son is an ideal opportunity to be inspired, moved, and quite possibly awed.

The Oh My Son production emanates Marcos’ signature style, a distinctive combination of modern world classical and his beloved Spanish melodies, intertwined in a very subtle way throughout his works. The clarity and sophistication of his melodies are subtly evocative.

The premiere is the culmination of years of work, beginning as songs, and maturing into melodies and arias. Now, after much hard work and sacrifice, finessing and perfecting of scores, ongoing intense rehearsals with musicians, soloists, and the choir, the debut is upon us. Among those who have heard Oh My Son, the early conversation is that this work may become associated with Easter the way The Messiah is inextricably linked to Christmas.

Indeed, the inspiration for this opera, was instilled in Marcos as a young boy growing up in the foothills of Crevillente, Spain. He witnessed the very famous Benlliure sculptures, which were donated to his town by the artist, as they were paraded on floats through the town in observance of Semana Santa before Easter. The magnificence of these figures captivated the young Marcos, and, along with the Biblical stories that his mother would whisper to him in hushed tones as each float passed by, left an indelible impression accompanied by melodic seeds to thrive in his fertile imagination.

For those interested in the visual art inspiration, there is currently on exhibition at the National Gallery of Art The Sacred Made Real: Spanish Painting and Sculpture, 1600–1700 that closes May 31, 2010. As National Gallery typifies the show, “arrestingly real sculptures and paintings of the saints, the Immaculate Conception, and the Passion of Christ are among some 20 Spanish masterpieces of the 17th century on view in a landmark exhibition…”.

For more information about the opera, go to www.SeeOhMySon.com. For those interested in joining the numbers of D.C. people attending and becoming part of this very special premiere, tickets can be purchased at www.carnegiehall.org beginning at $15.