"UNION MUSICAL" in the musical spirit of the "Wild West"

It’s been a long time since the Union Músical Torrevieja band last performed, but I’m relieved and pleased to say that not much has changed since my last visit. The band is in excellent form and, as always, strives to delight its fans and supporters with an exceptionally interesting repertoire and a high standard of performance. This time, I’ll be discussing the band’s Sunday fall concert, titled “Western Stories,” which took place on October 25 in the afternoon at the Municipal Theater. From the very first notes, the audience was transported into the world of beautiful music associated with the “Wild West.”

Maestro Carlos Ramon-Perez—artistic director of Union—put together a very interesting program, opening Sunday’s concert with the famous composition by American composer Morton Gould (1913–1996) titled “American Salute”. This appealing piece served perfectly as an overture; with its lively, staccato rhythm and almost patriotic melody, it put the audience in an exceptionally cheerful mood.

Another extremely interesting piece turned out to be the orchestral suite from Puccini’s little-known opera La Fanciulla del West. Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) masterfully employs an exceptionally large orchestra here, making it an equal protagonist of the performance alongside the performers of the leading roles. The Union Musical Band performed Johan de Meij’s superb arrangement of this beautiful music with great cohesion, paying close attention to every rhythmic and dynamic detail in their interpretation. The sound of each section of the ensemble was clear and well-defined, while Maestro Ramon-Perez conducted the band with great maturity and stage presence.

Fascinated by Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which he read as a child, Swiss composer and conductor Franco Cesarini (*1961) composed a five-part suite, musically portraying the novel’s main characters. And so we have here: a joyful rhythm reflecting the main character’s carefree nature; a piece illustrating Tom’s best friend; a contemplative section dedicated to his beloved; a dynamic escape from the villain; and the happy conclusion of the adventures and the finale. The music is incredibly colorful and evocative, stimulating the listener’s imagination—even for those who don’t remember Tomek’s adventures. The Union Band performed this technically and musically challenging composition in a way that sent chills down your spine. You can see, hear, and feel that the musicians of the UMT Band are highly skilled instrumentalists.

A cheerful atmosphere prevailed in the theater during the second part of the concert as well—(without an intermission)—which was dedicated to film music. "The Magnificent Seven" is already a classic of American cinema, featuring music by Elmer Bernstein (1922–2004). In this arrangement, S. Richards evokes these timeless melodies, and the Union Musical Band, in top form under the direction of Carlos Ramon-Perez, once again surprises with its high level of performance, energy, and vitality, as well as its imagination and musicality.

To wrap up a truly fascinating Sunday afternoon of “Wild West” music, the audience was treated to a performance of “Moment for Morricone,” a composition by Ennio Morricone (1928–2020), arranged by J. de Meij. It was music from iconic Westerns—grand, sweeping music—dynamically interpreted by Union with a great deal of energy from the entire ensemble. The audience, with equal enthusiasm, gave the band a standing ovation, naturally receiving an encore in return.

It must be said that the concert performed by Union Musical Torrevieja, conducted by Maestro Carlos Ramón-Pérez, provided an unforgettable aesthetic and artistic experience, remaining, as always, an exquisite musical experience.

Photos: Guardiola Molina Fernando