Landscapes in Sound: The Music of Joaquín Rodrigo

In a change to the programme, the talk by Raymond Calcraft, on the life, music and writings of Joaquín Rodrigo, is followed by a special showing of film-maker Alan Tibbitts’ Joaquín Rodrigo: Voice & Vision. One of Spain’s greatest composers, famed world-wide for the Concierto de Aranjuez, Rodrigo became blind at the age of three, but composed some 170 pieces of music in all. Honoured in several countries, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1990 by the University of Exeter. His daughter, Cecilia, is the Honorary Patron of Exeter Philharmonic Choir. The film includes images from the honorary degree ceremony in 1990, Exeter Philharmonic Choir performing in Exeter Cathedral and in Madrid, and the launch in 2016 of Joaquin Rodrigo: Voice & Vision, a book of Rodrigo’s writings translated by Raymond Calcraft and Elizabeth Matthews. Guests at the 2016 event included Cecilia Rodrigo and Sir Neville and Lady Marriner. Raymond Calcraft, a former head of Spanish at the University of Exeter, knew and worked with Joaquín Rodrigo from 1983 until the latter’s death in 1999. He has published books and articles on the composer’s music, and performed and recorded many of his works. Alan Tibbitts, founder of DVX Productions, is one of the foremost filmmakers in the southwest, has filmed and recorded many documentaries, concerts and recitals, and has worked with actors such as Judi Dench, Brian Blessed and Ian Richardson.The book Joaquín Rodrigo: Voice and Vision will be on sale after the talk for £10 (cash only). Proceeds from the sale will be donated to St Petrock’s charity for the homeless. Image: Joaquin Rodrigo