Letter to the Editor: Downey Symphony should consider French composers

Dear Editor:

Congratulations to conductor Sharon Lavery, the Downey Symphony Orchestra and the Downey Symphonic Society for the beautiful concert of Spanish music performed at the Downey Theater last Saturday.

Very respectfully I would like to suggest a program of Spanish music by French composers which could be called “The French Connection.”

I first became enamored of French composers when early in my career I was an audio engineer at Capitol Records in Hollywood. While there, I was exposed to Angel Records repertoire. (The now defunct Angel Records label was the classical arm of Capitol).

I was there when Maria Callas recorded the only complete French opera that she has sung. She was a specialist of Italian opera and even though she spoke French fluently she did not think that she was prepared to sing French opera. I remember how she studied French diction under Georges Pretre for one year before she felt that she was ready to sing Carmen. This to me showed how humble and professional she was. Pretre also conducted the orchestra for Callas' recording of Carmen.

In my last will I have asked my family that if they do a celebration of life after I kick the bucket, that the Los Angeles Philarmonic, Zubin Metha led version of Bolero be played on that occasion.

The program I have in mind would include among others:

1.  Bolero - Ravel
2. Toreador Song (Carmen) - Bizet
3. Iberia - Debussy
4. España - Chabrier
5. Symphonie Espagnole - Lalo
6. Habanera -  Chabrier
7. Rapsodie Espagnole - Ravel
8. Le Cid - Massenet
9. Le Pas Espagnol - Faure

The addition of a flamenco dancer and a couple of palmeros would make the program perfect.

I hope that conductor Lavery thinks that my suggestion has some merit and creates a program of Spanish music by French composers. We all would enjoy it.

Jorge Montero
Downey