Tomatito has the Orquesta Nacional de España play flamenco on the new album ‘Sonanta suite’

The album, which will be released by the classical label Deutsche Grammophon on April 13th, is conducted by Josep Pons and has arrangements by Amargós

S.C./Flamenco-world.com. Madrid, March 2010

Tomatito has managed to turn a soleá into classical music. ‘Sonanta suite’ is an album on which the Orquesta Nacional de España (National Orchestra of Spain) plays the Almería-born guitarist’s repertoire, including styles as jondo as the taranta, tangos and alegrías. It also tackles songs from other genres which he has already taken to his ground on previous records, like ‘Adiós Nonino’ by Piazzolla and ‘Two much’ by Michel Camilo, among others. And he does so under conductor Josep Pons, with arrangements and orchestration by Joan Albert Amargós, and young cantaora Ángeles Fernández on vocals. The disc will be released by the prestigious classical label Deutsche Grammophon on April 13th, 2010.

Tomatito after Sonanta Suite listening at Sonoland Studios (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

“This is an album which is for people who, more than flamenco, like music”. That’s how Tomatito presents his new record, ‘Sonanta suite’, after its listening at Sonoland, an album on which he tackles the challenge of transporting his flamenco guitar to the grounds of classical music. And vice versa, since the Orquesta Nacional de España has had to plunge into the jondo world. Bridging the gap between the two as arranger and author of the orchestrations is Joan Albert Amargós, already experienced in projects mixing flamenco and classical such as ‘De fuego y de agua’ by Mayte Martín and ‘A mis soledades voy, de mis soledades vengo’ by José Menese.

Leading the orchestra is Josep Pons, who believes that with this album “a new page in Spanish music is starting to be written”, on combining Spanish musical tradition and today’s flamenco. The conductor considers that ‘Sonanta suite’ is “like a great concert for guitar, with its different movements”. With regards to Tomatito, he says that “in no other concert do we have such a virtuoso on guitar with such technique, so many registers, so many colors and nuances”. And regarding the orchestra, he says that “a world between Falla and Ravel is made as far as the tone colors, but with greater modernity in the rhythm as well as the harmony”.

According to the musicians and the record company, the recording of ‘Sonanta suite’ has been hard work carried out in a period of over two years. And it has been worked out starting with the live recording done at Madrid’s Matadero in September 2008. The work had already been developed live since 2004, the year when it could be heard at Barcelona’s Auditori as well as at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville.

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