The Appleton Museum of Art, 黑料天堂, is pleased to announce a performance by the award-winning Maharajah Flamenco Trio on Sept. 15, 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $30; cash bar available. Tickets can be purchased at AppletonMuseum.org or in person at the museum鈥檚 Visitor Services desk.
The Sept. 15 performance will include the world premiere of their newest song, 鈥淓scucha el Mar (Listen to the Sea),鈥 an original composition by the trio鈥檚 classical and flamenco guitarist Silviu Ciulei. After their well-attended performance at the Appleton Museum of Art earlier this year, Appleton director Jason Steuber invited Ciulei to become the inaugural composer-in-residence for the museum. In spring 2022, the musician spent time in the museum visiting the artworks and found inspiration in a bronze sculpture called “Neapolitan Fisherboy,” c. 1860, by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827-1875).
The sculpture, on view in the museum鈥檚 second-floor European galleries, depicts an adolescent boy holding up a conch shell to his ear. On his object of inspiration, Ciulei says, 鈥淎fter the last couple of years we have had, I wanted to choose something positive. When looking at the artwork and thinking about the text for the vocals, I knew I could do so much more just by involving this teenage boy listening to the sea. Maybe he is remembering a person he loves, or his love at home, or the love of his parents. The inspirational options are so many that it allows me to play with words and ideas when figuring out the lyrics.鈥
Adding a composer-in-residence is another way the museum is carrying out Arthur Appleton鈥檚 vision, Steuber explained.
鈥淪ilviu was the ideal fit for the composer in residence program鈥檚 inaugural artist as he and the Maharajah Flamenco Trio are global citizen musicians and educators with ties to Florida and the Appleton,鈥 Steuber said. 鈥淢r. Appleton鈥檚 vision for the museum to be a place for art for all aligns with this multidisciplinary program.鈥
The September concert will be the first opportunity for museum visitors to experience new music inspired by art.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 think of a better way to kick off of our Composer-in-Residence program than by working with our friends Maharajah Flamenco Trio,鈥 said Assistant Director Victoria Billig. 鈥淲e hope you鈥檒l join us on Sept. 15 for what will absolutely be an inspirational and heartfelt performance by these Global Music Award winners.鈥
The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the 黑料天堂, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit