♪ [funky soulful music/ handclaps] ♪ - [Announcer 1] Support for the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival on KVCR comes from Amazon.

♪ - [Announcer 2] This program from the annual Summer Music Festival at the Redlands Bowl is made possible by support from these Inland Empire civic-minded organizations concerned with the cultural life of our communities.

The citizens of the Inland Empire that patronize the Bowl, and viewers like you, supporting local public television in the Inland Empire.

Thank you.

- [House Announcer] Please welcome Anna Maria Mendieta and Tango Del Cielo.

(crowd cheering/applauding) (gentle string music) ♪ ♪ (relaxed peaceful music) ♪ (soft low cello) ♪ ♪ (light peaceful music) ♪ (light peaceful harp music) ♪ (light cello/delicate harp ♪ (light cello/delicate harp ♪ ♪ (elegant violins) ♪ ♪ (light violins/cello/harp music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (gentle harp/cello/bass) ♪ ♪ (elegant violins) ♪ ♪ (light harp/cello/violin music) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (music fades softly) (audience applauds) (fast tempo/bright violins) ♪ (bolder plucky music) (strong cello/bass) ♪ ♪ (bright violins) ♪ (delicate harp) ♪ ♪ (soft cello/bass) (dramatic harp) ♪ (harp leads softly) ♪ ♪ (exquisite violins) ♪ (percussion/bass) ♪ ♪ (faster tempo) (harp trilling) (dramatic faster tempo) ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ (lively violins/ cello/percussion) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ (bolder dramatic playing) ♪ ♪ (bold strokes finish) (audience applauding) (audience applauding) - Thank you.

Thank you so much!

Well, we welcome you here with us tonight.

We're so excited to be here, here in Redlands on this beautiful evening.

We were here a few years ago and we had so much fun.

And, we're so excited to be back with you.

So, thank you for joining us tonight.

Thank you so much.

(audience applauding) My name is Anna Maria Mendieta and we are Tango Del Cielo.

Tango Del Cielo means "tango of heaven".

I'd like to introduce everybody here on the stage.

To my far right on violin is Mr. Joseph Christianson, (crowd applauds/cheers) from Tennessee.

(crowd applauds) Next to him is Mr. Thomas Yee from Oakland.

(audience cheers/applauds) Santa Barbara!

Santa Barbara.

And, (laughing) on percussion Antonio Gomez, on percussion from Seattle.

(crowd cheering/applauding) On the bass, Mr. Sascha Jacobsen from Mendoza, Argentina now; (audience applauds/cheers) from the Bay Area, also!

Yes!

On cello, Mr. Joseph Hébert from Oakland, California.

(audience applauds/cheers) And, the dancers who will be joining us tonight is Mizuho Sato dancing flamenco, and our tango dancers are Sandor and Parissa, and Guillermo and Giovanna.

And, we're so excited to have them join us today.

The pieces that you just heard us play in the beginning, the very first one was the "Ave Maria" by Piazzolla, who is so known for his tangos, but there is this beautiful hidden treasure of the "Ave Maria".

The second piece was "Adios Nonino", one of the most famous pieces by Piazzolla.

He dedicated that to his father.

Now, we're going to go into more of Piazzolla's music.

We hope you enjoy it!

(audience applauds/cheers) (soft plucking) ♪ ♪ ♪ (harp leads/soft cello/bass) ♪ ♪ (quiet exquisite music) ♪ ♪ (soft harp solo) ♪ ♪ (bass whining low) ♪ (somber violins) ♪ (elegant harp/soft cello) ♪ (calm thoughtful music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (elegant harp/string music) ♪ (chimes trilling softly) ♪ (delicate violins/harp) (harp trilling) ♪ (warm nostalgic mood) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (elegant strings) ♪ ♪ (faster rhythm/tempo) ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ (harp trilling) (faster rhythm) ♪ ♪ ♪ (slower tempo) (music fades) (soft harp leads) ♪ (somber strings) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (faster rhythm/tempo) ♪ (slow tempo/percussion chimes) ♪ (slower elegant harp/cello) ♪ (chimes ring softly) ♪ (music fades) (audience applauds) - Well, I started playing harp when I was seven.

I knew I wanted to play ever since I was five years old.

And, it was listening to Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet".

My parents had a recording of this beautiful piece, the "Romeo and Juliet".

And when you listen to the piece, the orchestra builds up, builds up, builds up, and then all of a sudden there's a sacred hush in the middle of the piece with a beautiful harp solo.

And, as a five-year-old, I was mesmerized, enthralled.

And so, I would put my ear to the speaker so I could hear that music over and over again.

And, that's-- I can tell you the day, the exact day that, that had happened.

And, I knew that's what I wanted to do.

It just took two years of begging my parents and reassuring them that I was really serious.

So, I didn't get to start until seven.

(audience applauding) (audience applauding) (delicate harp music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (harp solo) ♪ ♪ (warm elegant harp solo) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (hushed harp tones) ♪ ♪ (music softens) (fast percussion beats) (brisk cheerful violins) ♪ (lively beat) ♪ (harp trilling/brisk music) ♪ ♪ (bright violins/quick rhythm) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (festive rhythm/ cheerful violins) ♪ ♪ (bass leads/joyful music) ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ ♪ (rapid notes) ♪ (brisk bass/percussion) ♪ (percussion solo) (audience whoops/applauds) ♪ ♪ (percussion solo) ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience whoops/applauds) (bright violins lead) ♪ ♪ (upbeat cheerful music) ♪ ♪ (tempo slows down) ♪ (flurry finish) ♪ (crowd cheering/applauding) - Well, I came from a musical family.

Both of my parents were musicians and we were raised listening to classical music in the house.

But, because we come from the Hispanic background, the Spanish music was always a part of our growing up.

My father was the president of Theater Flamenco.

My sister became a flamenco dancer.

And, I always loved the Latin rhythm!

So, that's what I was drawn to.

And so, all of our family got involved with dancing, music and art.

(audience applauds) And so, we're gonna take you back in time now to the 1920s, to the very first Zorro movie.

(crowd whooping) Yes!

And, one of the most famous tangos that we know today.

It was composed for that movie by Jacob Gade.

And, the rest is history!

(crowd whoops) (stern voice) - History?

I don't think it's history.

It's 1927, people.

We got a movie to make!

Places!

Places, please.

Musicians, dancers.

Where are my dancers?

I'm not payin' for the extra time!

Get to your entrance.

Please, please.

Let's go!

(crowd whoops) Very elegant, ladies.

Very elegant.

Alright!

This is "Tango Del Cielo".

Take one.

Action!

(snap!)

(high rapid violins) ♪ ♪ (dramatic pause) (romantic violins) ♪ (violins trade high-low) ♪ ♪ ♪ (warm harp/violins) ♪ (quick tango rhythm) ♪ ♪ ♪ (high violins over tango beat) ♪ ♪ (harp trills warmly) (romantic violins) ♪ ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (elegant violins) ♪ ♪ (romantic music) ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (elegant violins/tango rhythm) ♪ (music stops) (crowd cheers/applauds) (crowd cheers/applauds) (crowd cheers/applauds) (harp intro) ♪ (taps rhythm) ♪ (soft elegant music) ♪ (bright violins) (quicker tempo) ♪ (bolder music) ♪ ♪ (brisk tempo) ♪ ♪ (slow wistful violin/harp) ♪ (romantic cello/harp) ♪ (high harp notes) ♪ (sharp violins) ♪ ♪ ♪ (brisk violins/cello/harp) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (fast dramatic tempo) ♪ (harp trilling) (slow tempo) ♪ (bird call effects) ♪ (low notes harp/bass/cello) ♪ (bold violins) (brisk tango tempo) ♪ ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (fast descending melody) ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ ♪ (music stops) (crowd cheering/applauding) (crowd cheering/applauding) (crowd cheering/applauding) - Tango Del Cielo, the very first performance was in 2006 with harp, strings, and dancers.

And, everything's revolved around the harp as the main voice.

It expanded to include flamenco because my sister dances flamenco.

To have the balance of both the tango, which is very inward and very moody and sultry.

To balance that with the fiery nature of flamenco was a perfect match.

And so, it just developed from there.

(audience applauding) (counts off) (harp trilling) (bold bass) ♪ (bass leads) ♪ (tense harp/violins) (bass leads) ♪ (tense harp/violins) (bass solo) ♪ (bass solo) ♪ (brisk bold playing) ♪ ♪ (low notes) ♪ (high bright violins) (pause) (soulful percussion/ bass groove) ♪ (high harp/violins) ♪ ♪ (soulful violins/percussion) ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ (bold soulful music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (squeaky percussion) (bold bass/harp) (jazzy dance groove) ♪ ♪ (softer music) ♪ ♪ (bright violins/upbeat tempo) (harp trilling) ♪ (brisk jazzy music) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (upbeat jazzy music) ♪ (squeaky percussion) (upbeat jazzy music) ♪ (bold notes finish) (soft coda) ♪ (audience applauding/cheering) - Astor Piazzolla is one of the most famous tango composers, and what's fascinating about his music is that he stretches the envelope for the musicians.

So, the musical instruments are not just used as melodic instruments.

They're also used as percussive instruments.

It was the most unusual and most dynamic music I had ever heard.

And so, I wanted to get my hands on his music to play on the harp, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

In fact, believe it or not, people would actually laugh at me.

If I would go to a music store and I would say, "What do you have of harp for a tango?"

They would laugh at me and they'd say, "You can't play tango on the harp!"

And, with that, I had to create my own arrangements.

I was very lucky to meet top of the world, top of the tango world, musicians and composers, and very, very fortunate to do that and be surrounded with that kind of music, that kind of talent.

(audience applauding) (mellow harp/violins) ♪ ♪ ♪ (slow romantic violins/harp) ♪ ♪ (high elegant violins) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (warm violins/soft harp) ♪ (dreamy harp trills) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (graceful violins/harp) ♪ (dreamy harp trills) ♪ ♪ ♪ (high elegant violins) ♪ ♪ (high elegant violins) ♪ ♪ (high elegant violins) ♪ (graceful violin/soft harp) ♪ (violin trilling softly) ♪ (music fades) (audience applauding/cheering) (audience applauding/cheering) (bold violins/quick tempo) ♪ ♪ ♪ (brisk violin/waltz music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (quick dancing tempo) ♪ (harp trilling) (quick nimble violins) ♪ ♪ (brisk tempo/cheerful music) ♪ (audience cheers/applauds) ♪ (high-spirited dance/tempo) ♪ ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (bright violin/quick tempo) ♪ (shoes clacking percussion) (harp trilling) ♪ (shoes clacking percussion) ♪ (rattling percussion sounds) (bright violin) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (shoes clacking percussion) ♪ (faster dancing tempo) ♪ (bold violin finish) (audience applauding/cheering) - Our dancers are fantastic!

They are also champions in their own right.

Sandor and Parissa are very famous tango dancers.

Sandor used to be a part of the show "Forever Tango".

Parissa, his wife and partner, taught Antonio Banderas the tango for his movie.

So, they've also done a lot of choreography and performances for "Dancing with the Stars", so you'll see them performing tonight.

Our other tango couple, Guillermo and Giovanna, are famous Argentine tango dancers from Buenos Aires, and we're so honored to have them.

Our flamenco dancer is Mizuho Sato, who is a beautiful flamenco dancer, and she is stunning with her footwork and her castanets.

(audience applauding/cheering) (gentle harp music) ♪ ♪ (melodic harp music) ♪ (bolder harp sound) ♪ (gentle harp trilling) ♪ (soft percussion/harp trilling) ♪ ♪ ♪ (quiet harp solo) ♪ (audience murmurs warmly) (elegant harp music) ♪ (soft percussion) (soft harp trills) ♪ (elegant harp music) (quick harp trills) (softer harp music) ♪ ♪ (quick tempo) (castanets clicking rhythm) ♪ (warm violins) ♪ (high harp plucking) ♪ (castanets clicking rhythm) ♪ (bold harp playing) ♪ (castanets clicking/ tense violins) ♪ (tense harp/violins) ♪ (castanets clicking) ♪ (dramatic harp/violins) ♪ ♪ (tempo quickens) ♪ (shoes clacking percussion) (harp trilling/violin singing) ♪ (harp trilling/violin singing) ♪ (harp trilling/violin singing) ♪ (castanets clicking) (drums prattling) (low sultry bass) (squeaky percussion) (sultry bass/percussion) ♪ (bright violins) (castanets clicking) ♪ (shoes clacking percussion) ♪ (low vibrant bass/high violins) (harp trilling) (brisk tempo) (castanets clicking) (shoes clacking) ♪ (harp trilling) (vibrant music) ♪ (violins and harp flaring) ♪ (bold dancing rhythm) ♪ (shoes clacking percussion) ♪ (castanets clicking/ bold violins) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ (harp trilling) (vivacious music) ♪ (rapid clacking percussion) (harp trilling) ♪ (music stops) (audience applauding/cheering) (percussion beats) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (quick tempo) ♪ (bright violins/quick rhythm) ♪ (quick trills) (bright violins/quick rhythm) ♪ (audience cheers softly) ♪ (quick trills) (high violin/brisk tempo) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) (vibrant dance music) ♪ ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ (squeaky percussion) ♪ (brisk tempo) ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ ♪ (vibrant tango music) ♪ (harp trilling) (bold violins/quick tempo) ♪ (harp trilling) ♪ (music stops) (crowd cheering/applauding) (crowd cheers/applauds/whistles) (crowd cheering/applauding) (crowd cheering/applauding) (applause fades) - [Announcer 2] This program is made possible by support from these Inland Empire civic-minded organizations concerned with the cultural life of our communities, the citizens that patronize the Bowl, and viewers like you supporting local public television in the Inland Empire.

Thank you.

[funky soulful music/ handclaps] ♪ - [Announcer 1] Support for the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival on KVCR comes from Amazon.

♪