Raquel del Val, a pianist born in Alicante, presents a recital next Monday at 7:00 pm at the Universidad de Alicante Town Hall Venue, located at Ramon y Cajal 4. Admission is free but seating is limited by capacity. The program features a premiere, the Rhapsody Basque Navarre, composed by Joaquin Larregla, along with two pieces inspired by Alicante’s spirit. Also on the program are Terreta’s Spells by Luis Vazquez del Fresno and San Chuan’s Bonfires by Rafael R. Albert, bringing a strong local flavor to the evening.
The remainder of the program includes works by Joaquin Turina, such as Gibraltar and Gate of the Sun (Toledo); Catalan Fantasy by Vincent Costa Nogueras; Andalusia April by Federico Moreno Torroba; a Spanish dance by Peter White; Grenade by Ernest Lecuona; Cadiz Lighthouse by Joaquin Turina; and Viva Navarra (Concert Jack) by Joaquin Larregla, providing a diverse panorama of Spanish piano music.
Del Val’s career began in Alicante and continued to unfold in León. By age 13 she earned the title of Intermediate Piano Teacher, and at 14 she progressed with a scholarship she received from Doral Chennings School in New York. She later pursued and completed a degree in piano with honors under the guidance of Guillermo González, a professor at Madrid’s Royal Superior Conservatory. She further earned honors in chamber music from the Superior Conservatory of Oviedo, underscoring a solid foundation in both technique and ensemble performance.
Recognized as a leading interpreter of Spanish repertoire, del Val blends rigorous musicological insight with refined piano technique and clear musical judgment. Her performances revive works dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, sparking renewed interest among contemporary composers in creating Spanish-inspired pieces for her to premiere and champion. This blend of scholarship and artistry gives depth to every recital, making the program feel both scholarly and vividly alive.
The success of her album Sights of Spain, combined with articles published in various music journals, has earned her notice from international specialists. Those experts are known to invite her to share her expertise through master classes focused on Spanish music, occasionally at the Manhattan School of Music in New York and at Iberian and Latin Music Festivals in London. Her live performances on RNE Radio Clásica are a familiar feature of her ongoing concert activities, reflecting a sustained presence in the European musical scene. [citation attribution: international music press and university concert programs]