Diego eL CigaLa

Wednesday, november 12, 2014 • 7 pm Spaulding Auditorium • Dartmouth College

Funded in part by the F. Charlton III 1938 and Jenot Warner Mill Fund No. 1.

Spaulding Auditorium’s Hamburg Steinway concert grand piano was purchased with generous gifts from Members of the Hopkins Center and Members of the Hood Museum of Art; the class of 1942, in memory of Allan Dingwall ’42; and anonymous donors.

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Post-Performance DiscussionsYou are invited to remain in the theater immediately following the performance for an informal discussion with the artist.

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Diego el Cigala is, quite simply, the most exciting and innovative flamenco singer in the world today. Passionate, profound and immensely proud of his Spanish gypsy heritage, El Cigala has been called “the Sinatra of flamenco.” His earthy and exultant and richly emotive voice marks him as one of the great singers of the last century. He is also one of those rare crossover artists who has stayed true to his musical heritage yet achieved name recognition with mainstream audiences around the world.

Born into a family of flamenco musicians, El Cigala began his solo career in 1997. A mere four years later he was at the Latin Grammys, his nominated album Corren Tiempos de Alegria for Best Flamenco CD. That was just the beginning of much bigger things to come, as a small initial collaboration on that CD between El Cigala and legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés led in 2003 to a duo CD, Lágrimas Negras (Black Tears), that became one of the most astonishing break-throughs in the realm of world music. Aside from winning El Cigala his first Latin Grammy (he now has three), Lágrimas became a huge global hit thanks to a combination of killer live shows, rave reviews, and ecstatic word of mouth. This groundbreaking disc, with its fusion of gypsy fire and complex Cuban rhythms, sold more than a million copies worldwide. Aside from winning numerous awards, the CD was fawned over by Britain’s BBC Radio and hailed

“record of the year” by The New York Times.

This was unprecedented success for a flamenco singer—and it was to prove just the beginning. El Cigala won his second Latin Grammy in 2006 for Picasso en mis ojos (Picasso in my eyes), which also became a bestseller. Then in 2010 El Cigala travelled to Argentina, land of the tango, to immerse himself in that country’s powerful musical traditions. After merging his own band with two of Argentina’s tango masters— bandoneonist Néstor Marconi and guitarist Juanjo Dominguez—the results were, once again, musical magic. Cigala & Tango won a Latin Grammy for Best Tango, and went on to generate fantastic sales, great reviews, and a sold-out tour that played to more than 160,000 awed fans.

El Cigala’s newest recording, 2013’s Romance de la luna Tucuman, offers a fresh take on the Argentinean tango tradition. Notable for the contributions of Mexico’s famed electric guitarist Diego Garcia, known as “The Twanguero” for his embrace of cowboy, Hawaiian, and surf music, Tucuman went on to triumph at the 2013 Latin Grammys, winning El Cigala a third Grammy, his second for Best Tango. It is this landmark CD that will be the focus for El Cigala’s upcoming tours through the United States, Europe, Australia and South America. This is El Cigala’s first engagement at the Hopkins Center.

aBoUt tHe aRtist

Tonight’s performance is presented without an intermission.

Diego El Cigala vocals Jaime “Jumitus” Calabuch Asensio pianoYelsy Heredia Figueras double bassIsidro Suárez Escobar percussion Dan BenLior guitar

For tickets or more info call the Box Office at 603.646.2422 or visit hop.dartmouth.edu. Sign up for weekly HopMail bulletins online or become a fan of “Hopkins Center, Dartmouth” on Facebook

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANTwed feb 25 7 pm • SpaulDing auDitOriuMSince winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk competition in 2010, McLorin Salvant has quickly become one of the most celebrated young vocalists in jazz, extolled for her lush, versatile voice, immaculate musicianship and fresh interpretations of jazz classics, blues standards and little known gems. Already a Grammy nominee, she draws in the audience through her deep connection to the lyrics and playful sense of humor.

THE NILE PROJECTfri apr 17 8 pm • SpaulDing auDitOriuMAs the Nile is fed by 11 African nations, so The Nile Project combines the region’s master vocalists and musicians and their magnificent, diverse traditions. On NPR’s list of five “must hear” international albums of 2013 and inspired by Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, this creation of Ethiopian-American singer Meklit Hadero and others is “an emotional and intellectual nexus of innovative music and education regarding environmental issues of the Nile” (Afropop Worldwide).

OLIVER MTUKUDZI AND THE BLACK SPIRITSfri jan 30 8 pm • SpaulDing auDitOriuMOne of Africa’s most beloved musical ambassadors, Zimbabwe’s “Tuku” concocts an ecstatic, irresistibly danceable blend of traditional and contemporary African music, backed by a band playing modern and traditional instruments. Singing intricate melodies in Shona, Ndebele and English, and executing loose-limbed dance moves and shimmering guitar licks, Tuku gives voice to people’s daily struggles and the call for tolerance and peace.

ConneCting aRtists to tHe CoMMUnityWhile at Dartmouth, Diego El Cigala participates in a post-performance discussion. For more information on Hop Outreach & Arts Education, call 603.646.2010 or visit hop.dartmouth.edu/online/outreach.

D A RT M O UTHRECYCLES

If you do not wish to keep your playbill, please discard it in the recycling bin provided in the lobby. Thank you.

Assistive Listening Devices available in the lobby.

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Please turn off your cell phone inside the theater.

Marga Rahmann Associate Director/General Manager Joseph Clifford Director of Audience Engagement Jay Cary Business and Administrative Officer Bill Pence Director of Hopkins Center Film Margaret Lawrence Director of Programming Joshua Price Kol Director of Student Performance Programs

HoPKins CenteR ManageMent staff

Jeffrey H. James ‘75a Howard Gilman Director

HoPKins CenteR BoaRD of oVeRseeRs

austin M. Beutner ’82 Kenneth L. Burns H’93

Barbara J. Couch allan H. glick ’60, t’61, P’88

Barry grove ’73 Caroline Diamond Harrison ’86, P’16

Kelly fowler Hunter ’83, t’88, P’13, P’15Richard P. Kiphart ’63

Robert H. Manegold ’75, P’02, P’06nini MeyerHans C. Morris ’80, P’11, P’14 Chair of the BoardRobert s. Weil ’40, P’73 Honoraryfrederick B. Whittemore ’53, t’54, P’88, P’90, H’03Jennifer a. Williams ’85Diana L. taylor ’77 Trustee Representative

For tickets or more info call the Box Office at 603.646.2422 or visit hop.dartmouth.edu. Sign up for weekly HopMail bulletins online or become a fan of “Hopkins Center, Dartmouth” on Facebook

DOUBLE BILL TERENCE BLANCHARD QUINTET & RAVI COLTRANE QUARTETfri apr 24 8 pm • SpaULDIng aUDItOrIUMAlthough a prolific composer for film, Broadway and opera, five-time Grammy winner Blanchard remains “a brass-wielding force of nature” (Los Angeles Times) as a trumpet player and bandleader. He and his honed, powerful band share the bill with a quartet led by saxophonist Coltrane, whose “quietly adventurous artistry” (The New York Times) embraces jazz traditions while forging a singular sound.

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAINwed apr 22 7 pm • SpaULDIng aUDItOrIUMRenowned for “perfectly polished professionalism, threaded through with dry wit and wry humor” (The Independent), these eight players strum, sing and make sound effects as they traipse from Tchaikovsky to Nirvana via Otis Redding and Spaghetti Western themes. Dressed in formal concert attire while expertly wielding their diminutive instruments, they offer the musical insights—and delightful daffiness—that millions relish on YouTube.