By Robert Harris
There will be new sounds for The Galston Concerts on Sunday 24 July at 2pm when two spectacular Spanish guitar stars present a flamenco festival.
The concert, at the Galston Uniting Church, will showcase Paco Lara and Carlito Akam, who are bringing their world-travelled successes to Hills District music-lovers.
Music of Spain will feature themes from the ever-popular Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo, a new slant on Carmen, a tango or two and music from Andalusia – think Granada, Sevilla, Malaga – to include Lara’s own composition honouring his home city, Jeraz, near Cadiz.
The haunting Cavatina theme from the film The Deer Hunter and ‘Australian’ content with an a-la-flamenco Waltzing Matilda will offer contrasts in styles.
Lara’s successes in competitions and festivals in Spain, his tours through Europe from France to Russia and later to South America are now being matched ‘down under’ since his family move to Australia in 2017.
His concerts at Sydney’s Opera House, the Sydney Guitar Festival and Adelaide Guitar Festival in 2021 are now surpassed by a national tour launching his most recent solo album The Andalusian Guitar.
The Galston Concerts are returning to strong audience support after COVID distractions of recent years. Proving popular is an organ prelude starting c. 1.30 pm, while the audience arrives, before the one-hourish concert from 2 pm.
Bookings are recommended on-line at trybooking.com (search Galston).
Tickets are also likely to be available ‘at the door on the day’ but best to check by phoning 0428 248 348.
