The prestigious music venue Le Rocher de Palmer, located on the outskirts of Bordeaux, has shone the spotlight on the music of the Balearic Islands this season, with five varied acts on the bill. Entitled Focus Baléares, this showcase was organized with the support of the Institut Ramon Llull and the Catalan Ministry of Culture, Participation and Sports, in partnership with the Institute of Balearic Studies.
Donallop, Biel Fiol and Tugores bring the curtain down on the program with a joint concert tonight at 8:30.
Tugores, movie tunes with a Mediterranean touch
Some of the great tracks in film history are recreated using a cello, a saxophone and a combination of acoustic and electric guitars.
The guitarist and composer Jaume Tugores puts his own spin on a series of iconic pieces from the silver screen. Brought together in concert, they make up a spectacular instrumental repertoire that packs more than enough punch to conjure up the magnificent, timeless stories for which they were originally created. Tugores has recorded seven albums and performed across Spain including at major festivals such as the Mercat de Música Viva in Vic, Cançons de la Mediterrània in Mallorca, the Fira Mediterrània in Manresa and WOMEX. He has also graced stages in countries such as Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as composing soundtracks for short films and documentaries, music for dance, and scores for puppet-theater shows.
Biel Fiol strikes a chord with Cello Works
The musician pays tribute to the cello by demonstrating its vast pitch range and timbral richness, which are almost on par with the human voice.
Cello Works, the first solo album by cellist Biel Fiol, features 12 original compositions that draw on a wealth of influences, from world and folk music to cinema soundtracks. The highlights include Saudade, recorded with a group of Brazilian musicians and Biol's former teacher, Raïff Dantas – the lead cellist for the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. The song Records d'Alfàbia honors another of Fiol's mentors, Miquel Àngel Aguiló, who inspired Fiol to turn his hand to composing. At the Rocher de Palmer concert, Fiol will be reunited on stage with a third inspirational figure, Jaume Tugores, with whom he has collaborated on several occasions.
Donallop's distinctive ode to life's mysteries
The duo consisting of Joana Pol and Pere Bestard, both born in Mallorca in 1988, will serve up their folk-pop stylings.
It has been a whirlwind few years for Donallop, who burst onto the scene in 2013 with their self-released debut album Veus que vius (Lived voices). The duo's popularity beyond their native island has led them to repeatedly hit the road in venues across Valencia, Catalonia, Madrid, Bordeaux, Marseille, Genoa and London.
After the release of their first studio album, #Milestones (Sonoteque, 2014), which also spawned the spin-off Te'n recordes (You Remember), they embarked on a long tour stretching to late 2015. This was followed in 2016 by the #Aubonsimagranestour, a prelude to a new musical chapter that they kicked off with Misteris de sa vida (Mysteries of Life), recorded at Paco Loco's studios in El Puerto de Santa María.
