The Philharmonie Salzburg under the direction of Elisabeth Fuchs celebrated a musical festival of joie de vivre together with the Latino dance world champion couple Martina Varadi and Andrea Silvestri, exceptional guitarist Manuel Randi, star pianist Fabio Martino and audience favorite Moisés Irajá dos Santos last night at the Großes Festspielhaus Salzburg. The program included music and dance highlights such as Mambo No. 5, De todo un poco, Sway, Oye como va, Conga del Fuego as well as works by Arturo Márquez, Francisco Mignone and Manuel Randi.
Ever since the hype surrounding the film "Dirty Dancing" in 1987, the mambo has also been at home in European dance and music culture. Fast percussion, striking brass parts and its distinctive rhythm make the mambo a rousing and lively style of music and dance that no fiesta should be without!
Its origins can be found in the Caribbean in the 19th century. There, European group dances mixed with Mediterranean elements and gave rise to the danzon - the first forerunner of the mambo. This was then combined with the son, the forerunner of the North American blues. The mambo was ready - born in Cuba in the 1930s. The relocation of many South and Central Americans during the Second World War finally brought the mambo to the USA, where it met jazz. This new combination gave the music and dance style its current form and also its popularity in Europe in the 1950s. However, it was then displaced by the rumba and cha cha cha and disappeared from the screen and dance floor until its renewed popularity with "Dirty Dancing".
The first known mambo was written by Dámaso Pérez Prado, other important composers are Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. Works by all three were performed last night at MAMBO in CONCERT - alongside other highlights of Latin American (dance) music.
Despite a technical glitch in the second half, the Philharmonie Salzburg and Elisabeth Fuchs , together with the outstanding soloists, celebrated a musical festival of Latin American joie de vivre and were rewarded with standing ovations from the exhilarated concert audience.
For all those who would like to join in the celebrations: The concert will be performed again today at 15:00 and 19:30. Remaining tickets are available all day via the Philharmonie Salzburg ticket hotline and at the Festspielhaus box office. Further information and the online program booklet can be found HERE.
Photos: Erika Mayer
MAMBO in CONCERT
Big fiesta with Fabio Martino, Manuel Randi, Moisés dos Santos and the dancing couple Martina Varadi & Andrea Silvestri
Fabio Martino - piano
Manuel Randi - Guitar
Moisés Irajá dos Santos - Violin & Percussion
Martina Varadi & Andrea Silvestri - Dance Couple - Winner 2024 of the World Champion Ship Latin Dance
András Kabdebó & Vivien Stoye - Dance Couple
Krisztián Gál & Nikolett Balogh - dancing couple
Elisabeth Fuchs - Conductor
Salzburg Philharmonic Orchestra
DO - January 9, 2025 - 19:30
FR - January 10, 2025 - 15:00
FR - January 10, 2025 - 19:30
Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg
Elisabeth Fuchs - Conductor
Salzburg Philharmonic Orchestra
DO - January 9, 2025 - 10:00 a.m.
Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg
Query note for the press:
Dr. Sylvia Paulischin-Hovdar
Salzburg Philharmonic Orchestra
+43 664 4200605