Cast
Javier Perianes — Pianist
Program notes
An emblem of Arab-Andalusian culture, the Alhambra has inspired some of history’s greatest composers, among them, Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz, and Claude Debussy. This film, directed by Gérard Pangon and Corentin Leconte, gives a musical reading of the 1000-year-old citadel’s history.
Arab-andalusian music, 9th-century Judeo-Spanish chants become the musical backdrop for our visit to the ancient patios, beautiful sculptures; the renaissance choirs of Juan Vásquez resound in the palace of Charles V evoking Spain’s Golden Age; flamenco blazes in the Albaicín quarter; Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain and Debussy’s La soirée dans Grenade ("Evening in Granada") find their place in the gardens of the Generalife… Echoing these works, pianist Javier Perianes performs Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, and Claude Debussy in the patio de los Arrayanes. In this way, the film invites us to discover the immense musical richness of this mythical place, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
