Spokane Symphony Invites You to Share Its Season Finale -- Latin Style

May 10, 2005

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 509-326-3136

Spokane Symphony Invites You to Share Its Season Finale Latin Style

SPOKANE: The Spokane Symphony will wrap up its fabulous 2004-05 season Latin-style when Latin Fiesta comes to the Spokane Opera House on Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. Latin American dancers and musicians will take the stage as Associate Conductor Morihiko Nakahara and the Spokane Symphony explore this exciting music from Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, and Spain samba, mambo, tango and more.

Internationally renowned master of the bandoneon Argentine Daniel Binelli, tango dancers and popular Spokane singer Max Mendez will help bring this exciting evening of music to life.

Binelli tours extensively in concert and recital. This unique and sensuous instrument is showcased in a wide range of compositions, many of which have roots in the tango of Binelli's native land.

A seasoned composer in his own right, Binelli is also widely acclaimed as the foremost exponent and torchbearer of the music of Astor Piazzolla. In 1989, Daniel Binelli joined Astor Piazzollas New Tango Sextet, touring with them in Brazil, Chile, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Holland and Switzerland before Piazzolla's death in 1992.

From 1968 to 1982, Binelli was bandoneonist and arranger at the prestigious Osvaldo Publiese's tango orchestra. His 1998 tour of Japan with Martha Argerich, guitarist Eduardo Isaac and the National Symphony of Argentina, conducted by Pedro Ignacio Calderon, was an unqualified success.

His tango music will be accompanied by the tango artistry of dancers Brian Dunn and Debbie Sklar who often perform with Binelli.

Familiar Latin favorites such as Tico, Tico, The Girl from Ipanema, One Note Samba, and Malaguena will be complemented by four selections by Piazzolla as well as other outstanding Latin compositions. Not to be forgotten is Por una cabeza from The Scent of a Woman. And of course, it is accompanied by the tango dancers.

Mendez, a popular Spokane vocalist will sing Latin favorites Granada and Estrellita. He is also the current director of music at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes and the director of the Gonzaga University Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Mendez has been a soloist with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Westminster Chamber Orchestra, Allegro: Baroque and Beyond, Zephyr, Clarion Brass and the Northwest Bach Festival.

This concert is sponsored by Best Western Peppertree Inns and the Spokane Symphony Associates.

Tickets are $15, $20, $25, $39 and are available in advance without service charge at the Spokane Symphony ticket office, 818 W. Riverside, Suite 100, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT or at spokanesympony.org.


CALENDAR LISTING:
Latin Fiesta with Carlos Binelli and the Spokane Symphony, Wednesday, May 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House. Call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200; tickets are also available, with service charges, through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT.