Enrique Granados' Letters (1892-1916)

With the occasion of the centenary of his death, a book brings together Spanish composer Enrique Granados’ letters.

Enrique Granados’ letters (1892-1916) (Barcelona: Editorial Boileau, 2016, 528 p.) consists of the gathering, chronological ordering and critical editing of 506 letters written by Spanish composer Enrique Granados or addressed to him by his immediate family circle or by prestigious figures of both Spanish and international cultural and musical history. The 83 senders or recipients who do not belong to his family circle are as diverse as Felipe Pedrell, Isaac Albéniz, Edvard Grieg, Amadeo Vives and Ricardo Viñes, but there are also people more directly related to New York musical life, such as the pianist Harold Bauer, cellist Pau Casals (married to the American mezzo Susan Metcalfe), the conductor of the Metropolitan Opera Giulio Gatti-Casazza or pianist Ernest Schelling.

The composer had a significant relationship with the city of New York, where he arrived in 1915 to debut his opera, Goyescas, at the Metropolitan Opera House. His stay, not without controversy, was extensively reported by different media sources in the city. It was, in fact, the first and the only opera ever to be sung in Spanish at this operatic center. This work reveals new key data about the personal and professional life of the composer, and provides information about the historical period and cultural environment in which he lived. Some of these findings are revealed in the extensive Introduction and Preliminary Study (Introducción y Estudio preliminar) written by Miriam Perandones, the author of this edition.

Miriam Perandones holds the title of Piano Professor; she has a degree in History and Musical Sciences and a PhD in Musicology from the University of Oviedo. Her research specializes in the study and musical analysis of the songs of Enrique Granados and she has written many articles about the composer in magazines and reference publications. She is currently carrying out research and analysis of Spanish music and musical theater during the Bourbon Restoration (1874-1931). She is a lecturer at the University of Oviedo.

A concert by Sylvan Winds ensemble will be offered after the presentation. The program will include Spanish Romantic repertoire. The Sylvan Winds has appeared under the auspices of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival and the Caramoor International Music Festival. The Sylvan Winds celebrated their 35th Anniversary during the 2012-13 season.

Introduction by Mary Ann Newman and Adam Kent. Followed by a book signing/selling by the author. This event is conducted in Spanish only.