Ataúlfo Argenta was born in November 1913 in a fishing village in northern Spain, where his father served as the railway master. Having studied music, he worked as a pianist for ten years, after which he enrolled in new studies in Kassel in 1941. Here he met Carl Schuricht, who encouraged him to pursue a career as a conductor. In 1945 he joined the Orquesta National, where he played piano, celesta and glockenspiel, and also founded the Ensemble Cámara de Madrid. In 1947 he became principal conductor of the Orquesta National de España. In the following years he recorded numerous works by Spanish composers, including 50 Zarzuelas. The main works of his repertoire are collected in this 10 CD set for the first time. As the Franco regime had isolated itself not only economically but also culturally, Argenta remained largely undiscovered by the international music centres. His tragic, early death - he died of carbon monoxide poisoning in January 1958 - turned him into a myth in Spain. In the meantime, music critics all over the world have also come to appreciate, praise and distinguish the extraordinary quality of the Argenta recordings. This collection is proof of the great loss that the early death of this conductor meant, in particular for friends of Spanish music.
Tracklist
CD 1
■ Isaac Albéniz (1860 – 1909)
1. NAVARRA 5‘31
■ Enrique Granados (1867 – 1916)
2. GOYESCAS: Intermedio 4‘31
3. ANDALUZA 4‘08
■ Joaquin Turina (1882 – 1949)
DANZAS FANTASTICAS, Op. 22
4. Exaltacion 3‘39
5. Ensueño 7‘17
6. Orgia 4‘19
■ SINFONIA SEVILLANA, Op. 23
7. I. Panorama 7‘31
8. II. Por el rio Guadalquivir 7‘03
9. III. Fiesta en San Juan de Aznalfarache 7‘25
Orquesta National de España (1, 2, 7-9)
London Symphony Orchestra (3)
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris (4-6)
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1957 (3) 1953-56 (1, 2, 4-7)
Total Time 51'41
CD 2
■ Joaquin Rodrigo (1901 – 1999)
CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ
1. I. Allegro con spirito 6’02
2. II. Adagio 10‘04
3. III. Allegro gentile 5‘27
Narciso Yepes guitar
Orquesta National de España
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1956 (?)
■ CONCIERTO DE ESTIO
(Summer Concerto / Sommerkonzert)
4. I. Preludio 7‘33
5. II. Siciliana 7‘32
6. III. Rondino 4‘38
Christian Ferras violin
Orchestre National de France
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1951
Total Time 41'23
CD 3
■ Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946)
EL AMOR BRUJO
(Love, the Magician / Der Liebeszauber)
Escenas gitanas de Andalucia. Suite del ballet
(Andalusian Gypsy Scenes. Suite from the Ballet / Zigeunerszenen
aus Andalusien. / Suite aus dem Ballett)
Text: Gregorio Martinez Sierra
1. I. Introducción y Escena 0‘38
(Introduction and Scene / Einleitung und Szene)
2. II. En la cueva: La noche 2‘17
(With the Gypsies: In the Evening / In der Höhle. Am Abend)
3. III. Canción del amor dolido 1‘30
(Song of Suffering Love / Lied vom Liebesschmerz)
4. IV. El Apericido 0‘12
(The Appparition / Das Gespenst)
5. V. Danza del terror 2‘13
(Dance of Terror / Tanz des Schreckens)
6. VI. El circulo mágico: Romance del pescador 2‘20
(The Magic Circle: Song of the Fisherman /
Der Zauberkreis: Erzählung des Fischers)
7. VII. A media noche: Los sortilegios 0‘23 CD 3
(Midnight: The Spells / Um Mitternacht: Die Beschwörungen)
8. VIII. Danza ritual del fuego: Para ahuyentar los malos espiritus 4‘03
(Ritual Fire Dance: To Chase Away the Evil Spirits /
Ritueller Feuertanz: Zur Vertreibung der bösen Geister)
9. IX. Escena 0‘59
(Scene / Szene)
10. X. Canción del fuego fatuo 1‘31
(Song of the Will-o‘ -the Wisp / Lied vom Irrlicht)
11. XI. Pantomima 0‘50
(Pantomime)
12. XII. Danza del juego de amor 2‘59
(Dance of the Game of Love / Tanz des Liebesspiels)
13. XIII. Final. Las campanas del amanecer 4‘30
(Finale: The Bells of Dawn / Die Morgenglocken)
Teresa Berganza mezzo-soprano
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957
■ Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
IMAGES POUR ORCHESTRE
14. I. Gigues 6‘52
15. II. Ibéria: Par les rues et par les chemins / 17‘54
Les Parfums de la nuit / Le Matin d’un jour de fête
16. III. Rondes de printemps 7‘37
L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957
Total Time 56'53
CD 4
■ Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946)
NOCHES EN LOS JARDINES DE ESPAŇA
(Nights in Spanish Gardens /
Nächte in spanischen Gärten)
1. I. En el Generalife (Allegro tranquillo e misterioso) 9‘28
2. II. Danza lejana (Allegretto giusto – attacca:) 5‘04
3. III. En los jardines de la Sierra de Córdoba (Vivo) 8‘22
■ LA VIDA BREVE
(The Short Life / Das kurze Leben)
4. Introducción 3‘00
Gonzalo Soriano piano (1-3)
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1957, Live
■ EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES (F. A. Barbieri)
5. Preludio 4‘21
■ LA ALEGRIA DE LA HUERTA (F. Chueca)
6. Pasacalle 2‘02
■ EL DUO DE LA AFRICANA (M. Fernandez Caballero)
7. Coro de la Murmuración 2‘23
■ EL CASERIO (J. Guridi)
8. Preludio del 2. Acto 5‘43
■ LA BODA DE LUIS ALONSO (G. Giménez)
9. Intermedio 5‘27
■ EL BAILE DE LUIS ALONSO (G. Giménez)
10. Preludio 0‘50
11. Intermedio 3‘33
■ LUISA FERNANDA (F. Moreno Torroba)
12. Preludio del 3. Acto 1‘21
Orquesta Sinfónica
Coro Cantores de Madrid y Orquesta de Cámara de Madrid (7)
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1951-56
Total Time 52'15
CD 5
■ Isaac Albéniz (1860 – 1909)
IBERIA
Five Excerpts from the Suite. Orchestral arrangement by Arbos
1. I. Evocacón 5‘16
2. II. El Corpus en Sevilla (Corpus Christi en Sevilla) 7‘58
3. III. Triana 4‘32
4. IV. El Puerto 4‘24
5. V. El Albaicin 6‘59
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1953
■ Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
6. ALBORADA DEL GRACIOSO 7‘12
Assez vif – Plut lent – Au mouvement
■ Manuel de Falla (1867 – 1946)
EL SOMBRERO DE TRES PICOS
(The Three-Cornered Hat / Der Dreispitz)
Tres Danzas:
7. Danza de los vecinos (Seguidilla) 3‘05
8. Danza del molinero (Farruca) 2‘34
9. Danza final (Jota) 6‘11
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française (7-9)
Orchestre des Centro soli (6) conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1957 (7-9), Live 1956 (6)
Total Time 48'23
CD 6
■ Emmanuel Chabrier (1841 – 1894)
1. ESPAŇA 6‘29
■ Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 – 1908)
CAPRICCIO ESPAGNOL, Op. 34
2. I. Alborada 1‘13
3. II. Variazioni 4‘17
4. III. Alborada 1‘13
5. IV. Scena e canto gitano 4‘44
6. V. Fandango asturiano 3‘12
■ Moritz Moszkowski (1854 – 1925)
SPANISH DANCES, Book 1, Op. 12
7. No. 1 in C major / D-Dur 1‘44
8. No. 2 in G minor / g-Moll 4‘06
9. No. 3 in A major / A-Dur 2‘45
10. No. 4 in B flat major / B-Dur 2‘32
11. No. 5 in D major / D-Dur 2‘58
London Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1957
■ Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946)
EL SOMBRERO DE TRES PICOS (The Three-Cornered-Hat / Der Dreispitz)
12. Orchestral Suite 20‘36
Orquesta National de España conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1956 (?)
Total Time 56'05
CD 7
■ Jesús Guridi (1886 – 1961)
DIEZ MELODÍAS VASCAS
(Ten Bascian Melodies / Zehn baskische Melodien)
1. Narrativa 1‘13
2. Amorosa 2‘07
3. Religiosa 2‘29
4. Epitalámica 1‘11
5. De ronda 1‘02
6. Amorosa 3‘33
7. De ronda 1‘11
8. Danza 2‘08
9. Elegica 2‘33
10. Festiva 2‘08
■ Ernesto Halffter (1905 – 1989)
SINFONIETTA IN D MINOR / d-Moll
11. I. Pastorella (Allegro) 7‘25
12. II. Adagio 10‘51
13. III. Minuetto (Allegretto) 6‘17
14. IV. Allegro giocoso 8‘22
Orquesta National de España
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1953-56
Total Time 52'38
CD 8
■ Tomás Bretón (1850 – 1923)
ESCENAS ANDALUZAS
(Andalusian Scenes / Andalusische Szenen)
1. Bolero 7‘00
2. Polo Gitano 4‘29
3. Zapateado 5‘00
4. Marcha y Saeta 7‘56
5. En la Alhambra (Serenata) 7‘10
6. Bolero de Concierto 4‘43
7. La Dolores (Jota) 7‘15
Gran Orquesta Sinfónica
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1955 (?)
Total Time 43'34
CD 9
■ Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
1. LES PRÉLUDES, S. 97 15‘50
Symphonic Poem / Sinfonische Dichtung
L‘Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1954
■ PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN E FLAT MAJOR
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1, Es-Dur
2. I. Allegro maestoso 5‘23
3. II. Quasi adagio 5‘10
4. III. Allegretto vivace – Allegro animato 4‘11
5. IV. Allegro marziale animato 3‘58
■ PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN A MAJOR
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2, A-Dur
6. I. Adagio sostenuto assai – Allegro agitato assai 6’59
7. II. Allegro moderato 5‘01
8. III. Allegro deciso – Marziale un poco meno allegro 6‘02
9. IV. Allegro animato 1‘36
Julius Katchen piano
London Philharmonic Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1957
Total Time 54'18
CD 10
■ Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
A FAUST SYMPHONY / Eine Faust-Sinfonie, S.108
in drei Charakterbildern / in three character portraits
after Goethe (Version without the choral ending)
1. I. Faust 27‘18
2. II. Gretchen (Marguérite) 17‘20
3. III. Mephistophélès 16‘58
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1955
Total Time 61'38
Details
Genre: Classical
Set content: 10
EAN: 4053796005311