Montsalvatge: Canciones negras (5)

A deeply seductive album of Spanish songs by composers including Granados and Turina, performed by the young Spanish soprano Sylvia Schwartz, whose commitment to this repertoire is described above, and is evident from her utterly enchanting performances.

A work from Granados’ Goyescas, perhaps more familiar in the piano version, opens the programme, which continues with Tonadillas en estilo antiguo, a set also inspired by the paintings of Goya and in which this soprano demonstrates her wonderful emotional and dramatic range. The folk-influenced set of songs by Guridi is a beautiful series of Castillan melodies, creatively transcribed by the composer with aplomb. The recital is completed by works by Turina, Toldrá and Montsalvage, including the latter’s universally popular ‘Canción de cuna para dormir a un negrito’.

This disc of orchestral works marks the centenary in 2012 of the birth of the Catalan composer Xavier Montsalvatge.

It is released as part of our Spanish music series, conducted by Juanjo Mena, a fellow Catalan national and Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic.

Montsalvatge was one on the most influential musical figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the twentieth century. He explored virtually every musical form, but many of his most significant works, including Cinco Canciones Negras (Five Negro Songs), were written after his discovery of the art of the Antilles. He was fascinated by West Indian music, which, as he wrote, ‘was itself originally Spanish, exported to the Caribbean, and then re-imported’. In Cinco Canciones Negras for mezzo-soprano and orchestra he set a varied collection of poems from the Caribbean and Spain, adopting the captivating rhythms of the West Indies. ‘Canción de Cuna para Dormira a un Negrito’ can only be described as one of the tenderest lullabies in the repertoire, presenting a vivid contrast to the exhilarating display of rumba-like rhythms in ‘Canto Negro’.

Partita 1958, which, in the words of Montsalvatge, is ‘not entirely unrelated to classicism’, is strongly inspired by the works of Darius Milhaud, who had discovered the intoxicating rhythms of Latin-American music during the First World War, and had introduced them into his own compositions to sensational effect in the 1920s.

Calidoscopi simfònic derives from an early, unfinished ballet, El Angel de la Guarda (The Guardian Angel). The impressionistically evocative introduction is irresistible evidence of Montsalvatge’s genius as a ballet composer, while the finale is an uninhibited celebration of primitive rhythms with thudding percussion, snarling trombones, uproarious trumpets, and, in the slower middle section, a characteristically melodious cor anglais.

In spite of his immense creativity, Montsalvatge never wrote a mass or a symphony. In 1985, however, he did combine the two genres in a symphonic version of the Requiem Mass, the Simfonia de Rèquiem, which features no words and no voices until the very end of the last movement. Montsalvatge intended ‘to ignore the orthodox religious aspect and to concentrate on bringing out its profound, forceful message, which is both sad and sublime, by the means of the orchestra’.

This CD celebrates the 100th birthday of Xavier Montsalvatge in 2012. He belongs to the so-called “lost generation” of Spanish composers who came of age during the Franco regime. Three internationally renowned soloists interpret three major works by this great Catalan composer.

This release contains an adventurous programme of Spanish or Spain-inspired works, arranged for the enchanting combination of two harps, and (in some works) voice. The combination of 2 harps works particularly well in this mainly impressionistic music, providing a fascinating colour palette and deep sonority. One of the harpists, Ekatarina Leventhal, possesses an exceptionally beautiful mezzo soprano voice, and sings the solos in De Falla with zest and passion. (Brilliant Classics 8895). Duo Bilitis won the International Chamber Music Competition in Almere, Holland (2008), the fifth edition of the UITMARKT chamber music competition in Amsterdam (2008) and is finalist of the International Jewish Music Competition 2010.

“Ekaterina and Eva are gifted with extraordinary musicality, professionalism and dedication. Because of the interesting combination of their ensemble and their stunning performance capacities, they manage to captive any audience. Not only should I describe a concert of the Duo as moving, but they bring a sense of humor to their performances as well" Emmy Verhey, concert violinist

The songs on this CD by Montsalvatge, Guridi, Guastavino and Turina span a broad range of moods, colours and contrasts and have wide appeal. Galdos is an eminent singer in Scandinavia and performs Spanish repertoire throughout Europe.

Clara graduated from the London Royal Academy of Music in 2005 with Distinction and the prestigious Outstanding Diploma. She was presented with the Vice-Principal's Award in recognition of her successes and was awarded the celebrated Richard Lewis Award.

Recent operatic engagements include the role of Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Opera St. Moritz and the title role in Cenerentola at Malmö Opera.

A committed recital singer, Clara Mouriz made her debut in Wigmore Hall last season, and has appeared at the Cheltenham International Festival and London Music Nights as well as Juventudes Musicales, Amigos de la Opera and Quincena Musical in Spain.

From the Handel Singing Competition 2008 “...this year's Audience Prize went to the Spanish mezzosoprano Clara Mouriz. Hers is a classy act: a light, agile mezzo of great charm and elegant intelligence..”, Hilary Finch, The Times, 7 April 2008.