Fiesta Española: Carmen & Capriccio espagnol

Featuring: Amaryn Olmeda, Maria Osende A fiery festival of Spanish rhythms, dance, and drama. Heat up February with Rimsky-Korsakov’s richly coloured Capriccio espagnol , the castanet-infused flair of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, and a larger-than-life suite from Bizet’s Carmen . Please note: This program will be approximately 75 minutes with no intermission. About the Artists: Amaryn Olmeda , violin Winner of first prize and the audience choice award at the 24th Annual Sphinx Competition, American violinist Amaryn Olmeda is a rising star sought after for her bold and expressive performances as a soloist and collaborator. Violinist.com says of Olmeda, “…her commanding stage presence, infallible technique, and interpretive ability already rival that of international concert stage veterans.” Olmeda made her Lincoln Center solo debut on the 2024 Summer for the City Series. Later that season, she returned for her solo debut at David Geffen Hall on the New York Philharmonic’s Kravis Nightcap Series with violinist Hilary Hahn and principal ballet dancer Tiler Peck.. She made her Carnegie Hall solo debut on the Sphinx Virtuosi tour at the age of 14, garnering rave reviews. Recent highlights include debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Omaha Symphony, and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra at their New Year’s Concert Series, earning her a nomination for the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards. In 2023, she recorded Carlos Simon’s Between Worlds on Deutsche Grammophon, praised by The Strad as “an impressive reading by the young musician.” In 2022, Olmeda performed for the San Francisco Conservatory Gala with Yuja Wang. At 13, Olmeda became the first member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Opus 3 Artist’s Artist Apprentice Program. Born in Melbourne, Australia in 2008, Olmeda currently studies at the New England Conservatory of Music with Miriam Fried. She previously studied with Ian Swensen at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Olmeda performs on a violin made by J.B. Vuillaume in 1864. Maria Osende, Spanish dance Maria Osende is a highly accomplished professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and producer. Osende’s personal and unique artistic voice ads to her deep knowledge of flamenco, ballet and contemporary dance. Her work is creative, engaging and impeccably produced. Her vision is one of flamenco as an open artistic form that is powerful and relevant in today’s world, and that can communicate with audiences everywhere. Maria Osende’s remarkable contributions have not gone unnoticed, earning her prestigious accolades, including the “Established Artist Recognition Award” from Arts Nova Scotia and the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council, solidifying her status as an award-winning artist. Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Osende started dancing ballet at the age of seven with Luis Fuente, Julia Estevez and José Granero and later on flamenco at the Centro de Arte Flamenco Amor de Dios. At seventeen a Fulbright scholarship allowed her to deepen her ballet studies at the renown School of American Ballet in New York City.  Prior to moving to Halifax, Osende danced professionally with the Compañia Nacional de Danza in Spain and the Berlin Ballet in Germany, where she was soon promoted to  soloist.  During this time she worked with various internationally renowned choreographers, performing a wide-ranged repertoire of classical and contemporary dance. Overtime, Osende’s passion for creativity and artistic freedom brought her back to her Spanish roots and to flamenco, becoming a freelance flamenco dancer in Berlin before moving to Canada in 2003 and taking Halifax by storm. Since then Osende has produced over 30 works, ranging from full-length main stage shows to solos and commissions. Moving comfortably between tradition and innovation, Osende also engages in projects involving other dance and music styles, architecture and theatre, as well as artistic international collaborations.  Her work continues to evolve over time, at times pushing creative boundaries, while other times remaining deeply rooted in traditional flamenco. Heat up February with Rimsky-Korsakov’s richly coloured Capriccio espagnol , the castanet-infused flair of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, and a larger-than-life suite from Bizet’s Carmen . Please note: This program will be approximately 75 minutes with no intermission. Winner of first prize and the audience choice award at the 24th Annual Sphinx Competition, American violinist Amaryn Olmeda is a rising star sought after for her bold and expressive performances as a soloist and collaborator. Violinist.com says of Olmeda, “…her commanding stage presence, infallible technique, and interpretive ability already rival that of international concert stage veterans.” Olmeda made her Lincoln Center solo debut on the 2024 Summer for the City Series. Later that season, she returned for her solo debut at David Geffen Hall on the New York Philharmonic’s Kravis Nightcap Series with violinist Hilary Hahn and principal ballet dancer Tiler Peck.. She made her Carnegie Hall solo debut on the Sphinx Virtuosi tour at the age of 14, garnering rave reviews.