SUNDAY, February 23, 2020
Xavier Montsalvatge i Bassols (11 March 1912 – 7 May 2002)
I know nothing about this man and found a reference to him on line. From Wiki:
“He was a Spanish composer and music critic. He was one of the most influential music figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the 20th.
Montsalvatge was born in Girona, and studied violin and composition at the Barcelona Conservatory. His principal teachers were Lluís Maria Millet, Enric Morera, Jaume Pahissa, and Eduard Toldrà. After the Spanish Civil War, Montsalvatge began work as a music critic when he joined the newspaper Destino in 1942, a publication he would eventually direct in 1968 and 1975. He wrote additionally for the daily La Vanguardia after 1962. Montsalvatge also returned to teach at his alma mater, becoming a lecturer in 1970, and then a professor of composition in 1978.”
Piano: Angela Cheng…
Conductor: Hans Graf…
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
The first minute drew me in so I listened for 6 more and was still drawn in. Then, not having time I skipped forward to spots and I have a feeling that I wouldn’t want to listen to the whole thing. It seems to sort of stay the same even when it’s different and that gets tedious. But the start was delightful because of the textures of different instruments, and the chords.
That was… different. I’ll have to hear it s’more to see how I really feel about it. It wasn’t love at first ear, but it wasn’t hate at first ear, either.