Pianist Alejandra Pacheco to visit the UWr Institute of Musicology
In the second half of May, the Institute of Musicology at the University of Wrocław will host pianist Alejandra Pacheco as part of the Erasmus+ Training programme, which supports cooperation between the Institute and the University of Seville (via the Vicerrectorado de Proyección Institucional e Internacionalización).
Two events featuring the Spanish pianist will take place on 21–22 May:
21 May, 6:00 p.m. – Music and Literature Club in Wrocław – Concert entitled Spanish Piano Music of the 20th Century
Programme: Spanish Piano Music in the 20th Century
E. Granados. Valses poéticos (1899)
F. Mompou. Musica callada (1st Book) (1959)
X. Montsalvatge. Sonatine pour Yvette (1962)
Vivo e spiritoso
Moderato molto
Allegretto
M. de Falla. Fantasia Baetica (1919)
This programme offers a journey through Spanish piano music of the 20th century. The journey begins with the late-Romantic music of Enrique Granados, who presents an intimate reinterpretation of the legacy of Chopin and Schumann. The austerity of Mompou’s Musica callada, rooted in the mystical poetry of St. John of the Cross, offers an introspective exploration of the piano’s sonic possibilities. Montsalvatge’s radiant Sonatine pour Yvette opens up to neoclassical sounds, interwoven with Cuban rhythms in its third movement.
The programme concludes with the virtuosic Fantasia Baetica by Manuel de Falla. In this work, Falla brings together French avant-garde influences, Spanish folklore, and Andalusian music in one of the most renowned piano compositions of the 20th century.
22 May, 11:00 a.m. – room 107, Institute of Musicology, University of Wrocław – Lecture/Recital entitled Spanish Piano Music in the 20th Century: A Lecture/Recital
About lecture
This lecture offers a review of the main styles in Spanish piano music of the 20th century. It starts with the late Romantic composers and the discovery of folklore and traditional heritage in the music of Enrique Granados and Isaac Albéniz. The second wave of nationalistic music, enriched by the French impressionism and European avant-gardes, finds its place in Manuel de Falla’s piano music. After the Spanish civil war (1936-1939), we approach the isolation and grief in its reflection on Federico Mompou’s compositions, and the later opening to the international music styles in the music of Xavier Montsalvatge.
The lecture includes in-site examples. It may be complemented by discussion and questions of the attendants. Depending of the context, it may include a workshop session focused on the particularities of Spanish piano music performance.
Bio
Born in Madrid, Alejandra Pacheco studied piano at the Conservatory in Seville. She later specialised in Spanish piano music, studying for several years with the renowned concert pianist Alicia de Larrocha. At the Marshall Academy in Barcelona, she earned a diploma in Spanish music and a Master’s degree in Spanish music under the guidance of Carlota Garriga. She also took lessons with figures such as Carmen Bravo de Mompou, Consuelo Colomer, Jan Wijn, Kenneth van Barthold, and Guillermo González.
In 2002 and 2003, Alejandra Pacheco was granted permission to participate in the University Courses in Spanish Music in Compostela, where she studied under Antonio Iglesias and Manuel Carra. She was awarded the Fundación Victoria y Joaquín Rodrigo Prize for her performance of Spanish music.
She has undertaken research and professional development residencies at Basel Hochschule für Musik, the National Institute for Educational Research (Costa Rica), the Foundation for Iberian Music (New York), and University College London. These residencies were supported by scholarships from the Fulbright Foundation or the Spanish government.
As a solo pianist, she has performed in Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, the United States, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica, with a strong emphasis on Spanish repertoire. She has participated in various concert series across Europe and Costa Rica, and represented Spain at the 1st International Enrique Granados Marathon (2016), performing alongside pianists from the USA, UK, and Australia. She has also given several chamber music recitals and appeared as a concert soloist.
In 2006, Alejandra Pacheco was awarded a doctorate for her dissertation on the Spanish piano school. She is currently a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts Education at the University of Seville (Spain), where she pursues a research career focused on Spanish music and music education. Her work has been published in journals and by publishers worldwide, including Reichenberger, Franz Steiner Verlag, Routledge, and The Teachers College Press.
Date of publication: 7.05.2025
Added by: M.K.
