Danzas Del Infierno

Danzas del infierno (Dances from Hell) is the score from an imaginary film. Therefore, the images are intangible, successively formed in the fantasies of the composer, the conductor, the musician, and finally, the listener.The scenario might go alittle something like this:The devil’s dance hallAfter a great, but sinful, life, the souls of Adelbrecht and Engelbrecht descend into the dark depths of Hell. In the distance behind them, the echoes of earthly lamentations resound. Over the groundand through the air, moves a malignant and foul beast.They suddenly find themselves among millions of their companions in misfortune when a hellish light is kindled in a giant ballroom with six tall pillars and six gigantic chandeliers. Six footmenproclaim the Devil’s arrival (leitmotiv) and her tall silhouette promptly appears: Lucifrina! A black, backless evening gown, a long split up the left leg showing glimpses of her wine red garters. She looks directly into Adelbrecht’s eyes and inviteshim to open the dance with her.The devil’s tangoIn the tango, we are introduced to the Devil’s dual personality. Seductive and sophisticated on the outside, yet fundamentally malicious and cunning inside. The dance begins with a very subtle fugaltheme, setting up the metaphor for her virtuoso dancing. But she soon lets the poor Adelbrecht know that he is supremely outdanced, until he finally collapses from exhaustion.IntermezzoIn search of a new dance partner, Lucifrina paves her way throughher newly arrived pupils. Engelbrecht tries to behave as unobtrusively as possible, but there is no escape.The devil’s waltzFrom the very first measures of the waltz, the dance is extremely wild. The centrifugal forces ensure that Engelbrecht rarelytouches the ground. He is so trampled beneath the violence of his too large and too strong partner that the other residents of Hell will scornfully call him “compote” for the rest of his death.The devils Can CanThe initiation ritual is complete. One“hell of a party” can start. There is singing, drinking and dancing in a prelude to a sinfully sweet hereafter. Adelbrecht and Engelbrecht slowly get over the first shock and have a surprising meeting with their new neighbour. (The subject for the2nd suite of “Dances from Hell” is about how he went through the same thing more or less in 1827.)