The Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts, under the leadership of musician Christina Wilhelm, continues to offer performances by musicians from around the world at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House in Patagonia. Sunday, Feb. 2 was no exception with the award-winning Italian violinist and jazz musician, Luca Ciarla.
Ciarla completed his doctorate of musical arts at the University of Arizona and taught violin there for a few years before embarking on a career as an innovative musician with an electronic invention called a ‘loop pedal.’ With this, he performs the entire score of a piece playing his violin, traditionally with a bow, but also strumming it like a guitar. He also incorporates percussion, cello, whistles and sings into a recording device using all manner of interpretation of instruments, rhythms and sounds. Each instrument/sound is recorded separately to complete the arrangement, then played back while he adds the final touch of whatever he decides to do live. This could be a whistle, violin, voice, a nearby piano or a member of the audience with their voice or a touch of the available pedals on the loop pedal. The performances are entertaining, innovative and artistic.
‘A Classy Call,’ the program Ciarla presented at the Opera House, featured fascinating arrangements of some of the greatest classical masterpieces, from Bach’s Goldberg Variations to Ravel’s Bolero.
In an addition to his concert Sunday afternoon, Ciarla remained in Patagonia to present a special performance for first, second and third graders the following Monday morning. Corralled by their teachers Ms. Tabler, Ms. Doles and Ms. Franklin, the students hiked to the Opera House from their school for an entertaining and educational experience.
Ciarla was patient and generous with the students, performing and then explaining his art. He encouraged intrigued students to come up and try the pedals as he recorded them. Students then sang along as a group to some of their familiar songs, accompanied by Ciarla either on the piano or the loop pedal. This was enthusiastically embraced by the children and the Opera House resonated with their eager young voices.
Having Luca Ciarla—another of the many world class musical artists to perform at the Opera House—share his talent with the young students of Patagonia will be a lasting memory to all who were present.