Cosette Justo Valdés - Conductor
Erika Raum - Violin
Maurice Ravel - Alborada del gracioso
Zoltán Kodály - Dances of Galanta
Béla Bartók - Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra
Béla Bartók - Rhapsody No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra
Amadeo Roldán - La Rebambaramba
Manuel de Falla - Suite from “The Three Cornered Hat”
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony continues its Masterworks series with Folk Dances, a vibrant program inspired by rhythm, movement, and musical traditions from around the world. Led by conductor Cosette Justo Valdés, the concert opens with the colour and flair of Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso before moving into Kodály’s spirited Dances of Galánta. Violinist Erika Raum joins the orchestra for Bartók’s Rhapsody No. 1 and Rhapsody No. 2, works filled with folk-inspired melodies and fiery energy. The program also features Amadeo Roldán’s La Rebambaramba and selections from Manuel de Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat, bringing bold orchestral colour and dance-driven excitement to the stage. Lively, expressive, and full of character, Folk Dances is a celebration of music in motion.