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 theground and 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. Sixfootmen proclaim 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 intoAdelbrecht�s eyes and invites him 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 cunninginside. The dance begins with a very subtle fugal theme, 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 anew dance partner, Lucifrina paves her way through her 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 extremelywild. The centrifugal forces ensure that Engelbrecht rarely touches 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 therest 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 thefirst shock and have a surprising meeting with their new neighbour. (The subject for the 2nd suite of �Dances from Hell� is about how he went through the same thing more or less in 1827.)