Anna Maria Mendieta & Tango Del Cielo

Performing Artist And Touring Concert-Show Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA United States

About Anna Maria Mendieta & Tango Del Cielo

Harpist Anna Maria Mendieta performs Classical to Tango as a soloist, with orchestras, and with her touring ensembles including: "Tango Del Cielo" (Tango From Heaven) - A multimedia concert! ...

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TANGO DEL CIELO "Twist with a Beat" Publication: The Eagle -Lifestyles By Ashley Swanson Chadron, Nebraska Intimidating isn’t a strong enough word to describe the group who took the Memorial Hall Stage on Tuesday. With backs straight, and carrying beautifully carved instruments, along with a large array of music chosen for the evening, it was difficult not to stare with wonder. Anna Maria Mendieta’s Tango del Cielo, which means “Tango from Heaven,” were the first performers in the 2013-14 Galaxy Series. Complete with a harpist, violinist, percussionist, cellist, and a flamenco and tango dancer, the ensemble did not disappoint. The group opened their performance with a piece called “Ave Maria” composed by Astor Piazzolla. Their fingers gracefully moving across the strings, with the occasional beat of a drum, the group moved from a soft, soothing tune to a more upbeat section. The second piece, “Adios Nonino” composed by Piazzolla, sounded like a group of people preparing for battle; however, as it moved along, the music became softer, with a happier tune. “What’s exciting for musicians is using the instruments that add to the character of the music,” Anna Maria Mendieta, harpist and dancer, said. She continued on to describe the type of dancing that would take place. Tango, one of the main dances, involves a lot of leg movement. After introducing each member, and what instrument they played, Anna Maria Mendieta explained the warm and crisp tones, as well as the sweeps she made while playing her harp. Their next piece “Jalousie,” composed by Jacob Gade swiftly turned into something you might find in Paris amongst the glimmering lights, the moon’s reflection off a nearby canal, and the sound of wine glasses clinking after a toast. Each new piece the group shared with the audience brought a familiar taste, with a surprise tied in. While some pieces were tranquil and romantic, others were adventurous and intricate. In the second half of their performance, Antonio Gomez, percussionist, wowed the audience with a series of “painted pictures.” He instructed the audience to listen closely to the sounds he made, but also to close their eyes, and so the music would take them some place different. The first piece began with the sweet sound of rain gently falling. Bird calls could be heard in the distance—some low and deep, while others were high pitched and quick. The rain continued as different levels of crickets and wind filled the empty space of the rainforest. The second piece began with the chiming of gongs and drums; the beats quick but the echoes seemed to last forever. Soon, drums were shaking the stage. The music continued to get louder, much like it’s building up to some grand finale, but eventually fades out. Not skipping a beat, another set of sound fills the stage, this time the tones make you feel as though you’re in a small town and it’s as though a celebration is taking place, and mugs are being filled with their finest drink while people are dancing together, spinning around and around the town’s square. Throughout the performance, Suzanne Mendieta, a flamenco dancer, and Eldon Bryce, a tango dancer, elaborate each piece with a meaningful dance, which tells the music’s story through a different light. Much like the dancers that one could imagine in Gomez’s final piece, Anna Maria Mendieta and Bryce slid across the floor as if they owned every inch, and planned on using it to their advantage. Each intricate move was specific. No matter which dance they were performing, their moves showed determination and love for their work. Suzanne Mendieta adorned the stage in a new outfit with every dance, each dress longer and thicker than the last. Both dancers seemed to feel the music in them instead of around them. In the final minutes of the event, Bryce juggled between dancing with Suzanne Mendieta and Anna Maria Mendieta, while the other three musicians continue to flick their music into the air. The standing ovation that greeted the performers was well-deserved as the group took their bows, thanked the audience for coming, and walked off the stage in the same professional, intimidating manner they arrived in. By Ashley Swanson

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