Tenerife Symphony Presents Thought-Provoking Concert with Mena, Aguirre

This week, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra offers a concert designed to make you think about humanity's biggest challenges, featuring three classic symphonic works. Juanjo Mena, one of Spain's most respected conductors, will lead the performance. It takes place this Friday, October 31, at 7:30 PM in the Symphonic Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife. Guitarist Rafael Aguirre will join as soloist for Joaquín Rodrigo's famous Concierto de Aranjuez.

The evening begins with Charles Ives' The Unanswered Question (written 1908, revised 1930-1935). This unique piece stands out in music history for its philosophical ideas and unusual structure. It features three groups of instruments that seem to ask about social disagreements and modern-day problems. They play together but don't quite blend, like different voices talking without finding a clear answer.

Next up is Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez (1939), a true audience favourite. This piece is seen as a symbol of modern Spanish lyrical music, blending emotion, brightness, and grace. Its well-known adagio movement, in particular, has become an iconic sound of the 20th century. Rafael Aguirre, an internationally acclaimed guitarist, is set to deliver his own special take on this musical treasure.

Aguirre shared his thoughts on the piece: "The Concierto de Aranjuez is the most important work not just for guitar concertos, but also in my own career. I first performed it at 16 during a tour of Morocco and Andalusia, which felt like the start of everything. Since then, it's been like a constant companion on my journey."

He pointed out the rich expression in each part: "The first movement reminds me of flamenco, the second brings to mind a Holy Week saeta (a traditional Spanish song), and the third recalls 18th-century Spanish court dances." Aguirre also noted the technical difficulty, explaining that the piece was written "when guitar technique wasn't as advanced, yet it sounds like it was composed by someone who completely understood the instrument."

Aguirre, who has played with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra before, added: "I'm thrilled to be back with this orchestra, especially after playing for the biggest audience of my career here – about 11,000 people in the port of Santa Cruz. It's always a pleasure to be on this island; it constantly amazes me."

The concert wraps up with Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 (1812). This bright and grand piece was composed during one of Beethoven's most energetic times. Many consider it one of the most joyful symphonies ever, and Richard Wagner famously called it the "apotheosis of dance" – meaning the ultimate dance.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the concert. You can buy them online at www.sinfonicadetenerife.es, by phone, or at the Auditorio de Tenerife box office. The box office is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

If you'd like to learn more about the program, there are two pre-concert talks. The Mirador musical talk, featuring the guest artists, starts at 6:45 PM in the Auditorium's Castillo Gallery. Also, the Tenerife Association of Friends of Music (Atadem) is hosting an informative talk at 6:30 PM in the Sala Avenida, led by Leandro Martín.

Before this main concert, on Wednesday, you can also catch the Schubert Octet. This is part of the second Cámara en la Fundación series, which is the orchestra's chamber music program in partnership with the CajaCanarias Foundation. It starts at 8:00 PM at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tickets and season passes, starting from five euros, are available on www.cajacanarias.com and www.sinfonicadetenerife.es. Orchestra subscribers can also get discounts.