Albéniz for guitar, by Javier Riba

Posted by Marcel Soleda on November 17, 2008  |  Leave a comment

Although Isaac Albéniz did not compose for the guitar, the transcriptions for this instrument of his music constitute an important oeuvre and were numerous even during the composer’s lifetime. Francisco Tárrega’s transcriptions for performers like Andrés Segovia have contributed to the renown of Albéniz’s piano works.

Some of Tárrega’s transcriptions are included on the recording La guitarra soñada, along with others by the guitarist Javier Riba, who on this CD offers an elegant and solid performance backed by a profound grasp of Albéniz and the guitar idiom. Included on the CD is a selection of some of the best-known works by the Catalan composer: Iberia, Suite Española, España and Pavana.

This is what Walter Aaron Clark, an Albéniz scholar, has to say about the quality of these transcriptions: “But I had always felt that a solo guitarist could not do justice to this music. The guitar virtuoso Javier Riba, an artist of the first order, has proved the falseness of that claim, for which we should all be grateful.”

“El Puerto” by Albéniz orchestrated by Jesús Rueda

Posted by Cristina Martí on July 30, 2008  |  Leave a comment

This year’s Peralada Festival provides the setting for the Cadaqués Orchestra’s premiere of the fourth orchestration, done by the Madrid composer Jesús Rueda, of Albéniz’s Suite Iberia.
Suite Iberia is one of the best-known works by Isaac Albéniz. Originally written for piano, its scenes of Hispanic references have been orchestrated several times, but this is the first adaptation for classical orchestra. Rueda’s profound feeling for the music of Albéniz has produced orchestrations of Triana, Evocación, Lavapiés and now El Puerto that demonstrate tonal and musical richness.
In addition to El Puerto, the Peralada Festival concert, this 5 August, also features Evocación, under the direction of maestro Neville Marriner, principal guest conductor of the Cadaqués Orchestra.

Isaac Albéniz, Poèmes d’amour

Posted by Redacción on March 6, 2008  |  Leave a comment

A joint project by the Cadaqués Orchestra and Tritó Edicions has brought back to life an all but forgotten work by Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909). A new CD recording and edition of the score, with parts for rent, of Poèmes d’Amour are now available from our website.

“Poèmes d’Amour”, composed in 1892, is a work for recitalist or rhapsodist with chamber ensemble that Isaac Albéniz structured around fourteen poems by the French Symbolist Armand Sylvestre (1837-1901). It premiered on 29 June, 1892, in London with one of the most famed actresses of all times, Sarah Bernhardt, reciting. Over the years the work was largely forgotten. Now the prestigious conductor and musicologist José de Eusebio has edited the score. De Eusebio is the world’s top specialist in Albéniz’s work and for years has been dedicating himself to the composer’s stage works such as “Merlín”, “Henry Clifford” and Pepita Jiménez. De Eusebio’s new score is based on the manuscripts held at the Barcelona Music Museum. With this new score, and the recording by the Cadaqués Orchestra, “Poèmes d’Amour” has been rescued from obscurity.

This project would not have been possible without the support of the Fundació Caixa Catalunya, which has joined forces with “Tritó Edicions” and “The Cadaqués Orchestra”. The recovery of patrimony and the revival of the works of our composers, Albéniz, in this case one of the foremost names in Catalan and Spanish music of all times, is always a source of satisfaction, especially when it involves the acclaimed Cadaqués Orchestra, which has long stood out for projects such of this nature.

To celebrate this release, www.trito.es is offering a 15% discount on the CD with score pack.

The Cadaqués Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla successfully perform Shostakovich and Albéniz

Posted by Marcel Soleda on April 2, 2007  |  Leave a comment

The Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra and the Cadaqués Orchestra (ODC), conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, interpreted this symphony at the Auditorio Nacional de Música de Madrid, as part of the Ibermúsica season. This was the first concert in a joint project between the two orchestras which included a repeat performance in Zaragoza, offering another chance to hear this intense, expansive symphony. The project is to culminate in the upcoming release of a CD by Tritó. Another point of interest in this collaborative effort is the world premiere of the new orchestration of Evocación - the movement from Isaac Albéniz ’s Suite “Iberia” – by Jesús Rueda, winner of the Spanish National Music Prize 2004 and resident composer with the Cadaqués Orchestra, who has also orchestrated two other movements, Lavapiés and Triana.

Albéniz’s piece featured in the first half of the two concerts, played by the Cadaqués Orchestra (ODC) alone, while in the second part the two orchestras performed Shostakovich ’s 4th Symphony together.

The ORCAM interpreted Lavapiés, Jesús Rueda’s orchestrated version

Posted by Marcel Soleda on October 6, 2006  |  Leave a comment

Under the direction of Miguel Roa, the Community of Madrid Orchestra and Chorus (ORCAM) will be touring China during the latter half of October with a programme featuring Jesús Rueda’s 2003 orchestrated version of Lavapiés from Isaac Albéniz’s suite Iberia. The concerts are on the 17th in Beijing, the 20th in Shanghai and the 23rd in Hong Kong.