A charming finale to the summer concert season in the park

The park concerts organized by the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra are laid-back and relaxing events that still maintain a high standard of performance. At the next and final park concert of the season—which actually took place at the beginning of fall in Eduardo Gil Rebollo Park in La Mata—a large audience had the pleasure of enjoying a concert performed by artists of, as always, the highest caliber. In a romantic open-air setting, with the sun casting ever-longer shadows from the trees and the moon awaiting its full rise, the OST string quartet—composed of: Nikolay Grabovskiy—1st violin, Christian Casanova—2nd violin, Paloma Valero—viola y Alberto Gomez - cello**

In classical music, a string quartet is an ensemble that represents the pinnacle of chamber music, a tradition shaped by the Viennese classics (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven). This time, however, the quartet’s artists break with the traditional repertoire, presenting a completely distinct program that is accessible to every music lover. In their performance, the artists conveyed the full spectrum of music arranged for a quartet, with the excellent collaboration and dedication of the instrumentalists particularly noteworthy as they, with care and respect, executed the tempo, rhythm, articulation, and dynamics of each piece performed. A truly enchanting evening, full of lightness, elegance, and the timeless sounds of popular music in the very heart of the forest, turned out to be an exciting journey right from the start with the fully classical sound of “Palladio,” which opened the evening. All my senses fell silent, and only my hearing took in the atmospheric sounds... and in fact, there were many enchanting sounds to listen to and admire.

From the very first moments, the audience was captivated by the performers, united by a shared, extraordinary joy in playing. In the pieces “Mission Impossible” and “Remember Me,” the musicians’ ability to modulate and the lightness of their expression were truly impressive. A classic gem—Boccherini’s famous “Minuet”—was also beautifully performed. The interpretations of “Braveheart,” “Shape of You,” and “Leyendas de pasión”—songs that impressed with their magnificent sonic effects—were undeniably charming. Intense focus was evident in the famous compositions: “Tico Tico,” “O Sole Mio,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” allowing the musicians to bring out the truly beautiful elements and details of the pieces. The skill, extraordinary sensitivity, attention to detail, and musicality of the string quartet’s musicians made it possible to They adapted their performances to various musical styles, a masterful display of which we were also able to admire during their renditions of “Clock,” “Yesterday,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Life and Death,” and “Hey Jude.” Short pieces, played as if in poetic ecstasy, led the audience into the grand finale. The quartet’s rendition of “Vida la Vida” sounded as if the space were filled with the sounds of a symphony orchestra. Their perfectionism and passion spread to the audience, whose enthusiastic response prompted an encore. And for the encore, “Mamma Mia.”

The string quartet’s performance should be considered a tremendous musical success for the OST ensemble. I would love to hear the ensemble perform a repertoire of Viennese classics as part of the chamber music concerts organized by the Orchestra.

The park concerts are the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra’s way of bringing more and more great music to the city—close to the people and close to their everyday lives. The OST’s performance in La Mata Park was not only a beautiful way to wrap up the summer, but also a quiet promise and hope that next year we’ll see and hear once again how Torrevieja’s parks are transformed into concert halls under a cloudless sky.

Photos: Fernando Guardiola Molina