Explore 'A Taste of Spain' in Poway

Spain is coming to Poway this month.

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation will present the on Friday, March 23. The concert will give Powegians a rare opportunity to experience Spanish dance, cuisine and music.

“It’s going to be a spectacular concert,” Artistic Director and Conductor Jung-Ho Pak said. “It’s going to be a concert of great passion and exoticism. We have flamenco dancers, singers, flamenco [and] classical guitarists with the orchestra.”

Before the concert begins, there will be free pre-show events such as flamenco dance demonstrations, costume and prop displays, and library exhibit with books and recordings about Spain.

“We’re going to talk about Spanish art, including [Pablo] Picasso and [romantic painter Francisco] Goya,” Pak said.

The “Nova Experience” includes Spanish tapas and appetizers from Café Merlot. Spanish wines will also be available.

“Orchestra Nova is the most unusual orchestra in the country,” Pak said. “We give experiences, we don’t give concerts. Whatever we do, we try to do it with great theatricality and imagination. We want the audience to have fun… We want to make the audience feel like they’ve gone to Spain and feel like they understand the culture.”

Orchestra Nova’s 35 musicians will perform music from various composers, such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Manuel de Falla, Xavier Montsalvatge and Joaquin Rodrigo.

The music program includes “Spanish Dance” from “The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, “Sevilla” from “Suite Espanola” by  Isaac Albeniz and “March of the Toreadors” from Carmen by Georges Bizet

“There’s so much passionate and fiery music in Spain. I wanted the audience to experience what authentic Spanish culture is like,” Pak said.

There will also be special guest artists, such as soprano singer Victoria Mature and baritone singer Gregorio Gonzalez.

In addition, Olé Flamenco—flamenco singer Marysol Fuentes, flamenco dancer Erica Lopez, flamenco guitarist Juan Moro and classical guitarist Fred Benedetti—will perform at the event.

“I’m looking forward to working with the flamenco dancers in showing how flamenco is done in an authentic way and what is the soul of that culture is,” Pak said. “I think the audience will have fun.”

The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $45 for adults and $10 for youth—who are under 18 years of age with the purchase of an adult ticket). Seniors save 15 percent off single ticket prices. There are also discounts for groups of 10 or more and fundraising tickets are also available. You can purchase tickets online, by calling the ticket office at (858) 748-0505 or visiting the office. For more information, visit  PowayArts.org.

Orchestra Nova will also perform “A Taste of Spain” on March 24 at the Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall in Sorrento Valley and on March 26 at the Sherwood Auditorium in La Jolla.

Cafe Lily is celebrating the , or Norouz, at the Edgemoore St. Club House on March 22. Tickets cost $10 and includes a buffet dinner. They can be purchased at Cafe Lily. RSVP by calling 858-774-1928 by March 18.

In case you missed out on Café Lily’s festivities, the will host a at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24. The free event includes activities on ancient traditions and Persian music by Farhad Bahrami, Hooman Yazdani and Maziar Yazdani.