The Colors of Spain, European tour comes to Columbia for one night only
March 3, 2026
Columbia audiences will get a rare first look at a European touring production this month when “The Colors of Spain” makes its U.S. premiere at the Koger Center for the Arts.
Set for Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m., the one-hour performance transforms the Koger Center’s Black Box Theatre into an intimate Spanish salon, offering Midlands audiences a chance to “escape to Spain without leaving Columbia.”
Onur Ozturk
Following a sold-out international run across Europe, the production arrives in South Carolina with a reimagined presentation of Isaac Albéniz’s beloved Suite Española. Rather than a traditional recital, the evening blends classical music with dramatic narration and staging, integrating guitar and string quartet with theatrical storytelling.
“Arranging Albéniz’s Suite Española was no different than transforming a passionate Andalusian poem, laden with cries of love, into a novel where each letter is written with the steps of a dance.” – Onur Ozturk
A Multidisciplinary Take on a Spanish Masterpiece
Arranged by Onur Ozturk, Suite Española unfolds as a journey through Spain’s distinct regions, each movement evoking a different city or cultural tradition. The program includes:
- Granada, Serenata
- Cataluña, Courante
- Sevilla, Sevillanas
- Cádiz, Saeta
- Asturias, Leyenda
- Cuba, Notturno
- Castilla, Seguidillas
- Aragón, Fantasía
Originally composed for piano, Albéniz’s work is widely considered one of the defining musical portraits of Spain. In this production, the addition of strings, guitar, and live dramatic elements brings a cinematic and narrative dimension to the music, offering both classical enthusiasts and newcomers a fresh perspective.
An Intimate Black Box Experience
Unlike large-scale orchestral concerts typically held in the Koger’s main hall, “The Colors of Spain” will be staged in the Black Box Theatre, where seating is strictly limited to 131 guests. Organizers say the smaller setting is designed to preserve the emotional immediacy of the performance.
Doors open at 7:10 p.m., with the performance beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m.
For Columbia concertgoers seeking a refined alternative to typical St. Patrick’s Day festivities, the production offers a one-hour immersion in Spanish culture, virtuosity and drama — without ever leaving the Midlands.
Tickets are expected to sell quickly due to limited seating and the production’s international tour history.
About Onur Ozturk
Onur Ozturk is an award-winning classical guitarist, arranger, and educator based in Columbia, South Carolina. He is pursuing a Master of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of South Carolina, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Ozturk previously studied at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Switzerland, after earlier studies at Bilkent University. He has performed tours widely in Turkey and concerts in Europe and is the creator and lead arranger of The Colors of Spain, a concert project built around Albéniz’s Suite Española for guitar and string quartet.
