Last
time we looked at the Spanish flavor found in the music of Isaac Albeniz.
Today, let’s look at Enrique Granados (1867–1916), who often collaborated with
Albeniz during his lifetime. Like Albeniz, Granados was a pianist who studied
with Spanish nationalist Felipe Pedrell. He is primarily known for his piano
works, chamber music, opera and other vocal works, and symphonic poems. His
piano suite Goyescas (1911) is
perhaps what he is best known for. This piece provides Granados’ reflections on
the artwork of Spanish painter Francisco de Goya. Granados believed de Goya’s
work exceptionally displayed a Spanish character that he hoped to convey in his
own suite. Following the completion of the piano suite, he went on to adapt the
work into an opera that premiered in New York City in 1916. While traveling
home from the premiere, Granados drowned in the English Channel after his boat
was torpedoed.
Here you can enjoy Goyescas both as the
piano suite and the opera by Granados. Do you sense a Spanish character?
