Great
Classical Music
Composers

Isaac ALBENIZ

29 May 1860 - 18 May 1909 (age 48)

Portrait by Paul Helm
click on image for more info

Isaac Albeniz was a Catalan composer and virtuoso pianist.
He was one of the main proponents of a Spanish national style of composition.
Best known for his piano works, many of which have been arranged by others for guitar and/or orchestra.

Family

Born: Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz i Pascual,
29 May 1860 Camprodon, Catalonia, Spain
Father: Angel Albeniz, Basque/Spanish. Customs officer.
Mother: Dolors Pascual, Catalan/Spanish
Siblings: 3 sisters
Partners: 1883 Married Rosina Jordana, a student of his.
Children: Five - 4 girls (2 of which died in infancy) + 1 boy
Blanca, died in 1886.
Laura,a painter
Alfonso, diplomat. Also played football for Real Madrid
Great-grand-daughter: Cecilia Cigane-Albeniz Sarkozy. Former First Lady of France (ex wife of President Sarkozy)
Died: of kidney disease at Cambo-les-Bains, Pays Basque.
Grave: Cementiri del Sudoest, Barcelona

To see some photos of his family and friends visit La guitarra balear

Spelling: The correct spelling is Albéniz with an acute accent over the e, especially in Spanish speaking countries. However it is more common, and perfectly correct, in other countries to omit the accent.
The final 'z' should be pronounced as a 'th' sound.

2009 - 2010 Year Albeniz

2009 was the centenary of his death and 2010 is the 150th anniversary of his birth - so a double commemoration.
The Albeniz Museum in Camprodon, his birthplace, is organising a series of special events in addition to the annual Albeniz Festival and a new postage stamp has been issued, available from the museum. Museu Isaac Albéniz

Albeniz stamp

Works

5 operas including:
- Henry Clifford
- Pepita Jiménez
- Merlin
Many works for the piano including:
- Suite Espagnola (8 pieces)
- Espagna (6 pieces)
- Iberia (12 pieces)
Orchestral works including:
- 2 piano concertos

Temperament

Isaac Albeniz was a kind, cheerful and generous man with a keen sense of humour (and a taste for cigars). Every one that knew him liked and respected him.
Besides being a serious concert pianist he liked entertaining and produced various works for the stage including operas. He showed off tricks such as playing with his back to the piano or with the keyboard covered with a cloth.

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Career and Travels

Isaac was a child prodigy.
Age 4 - First public performance in Barcelona.
Isaac and his family moved all over Spain due to his father's job in the post office.
Age 6 - Studied in Paris for 9 months
Age 8 - Studied at Madrid conservatory
Age 14- His sister committed suicide
Age 15 - Father posted to Puerto Rico and Cuba. Isaac gave concerts in South America and Cuba.
Legend has it that he ran away from home and stowed away on a boat to Buenos Aires and then earned a living playing the piano in bars. The truth however is that he accompanied his father.
Age 16 - Returned to Madrid. Given a Royal scholarship to study in Brussels. From this time he became independent of his parents.
Age 23 - Moved to Barcelona where he met and studied with Felipe Pedrell, a great Catalan musician and scholar, who inspired him to study Spanish folklore and national music.
Age 23 - Tour of South America. Back in Barcelona he married one of his students - Rosita Jordana. A happy and successful marriage.
Age 29 - A very successful stay in London where he gave several concerts.
Age 29-32 - Toured Europe giving concerts in Germany, Austria, Belgium and France. He lived in Paris, Brussels, Nice, Leipzig and other towns.
Age 30-33 - Lived in London. Appointed composer and conductor at Prince of Wales Theatre. Met the banker Francis Money-Coutts who commissioned him to put his poems and librettos to music.
Age 33 - Moved to Paris. Made friends with Faure, Dukas, Granados, Breton.
Age 40 - His kidney problems (Bright's disease) became more serious causing him extreme pain and which eventually killed him.
Age 48 - Moved from Nice to the Basque health resort of Campo-les-Bains where he died. He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
He is buried in the Montjuïc cemetery in Barcelona.

Books, CDs and DVDs

I have made a selection of recommended items from the UK, Canadian and USA Amazon sites. Click on an item to read available reviews.

Amazon.com selection (USA)
UK selection at amazon.co.uk
Selection at Amazon.ca - Canada

Alicia de Larrocha

Alicia de Larrocha, queen of Spanish piano music, has died at the age of 86. She was by far the best performer of his piano works. If you are buying any of his piano compositions try to get it played by Alicia.

The Washington Post has printed a glowing tribute/obituary

Alicia de Larrocha performing I. Albeniz "Evocacion" from Suite "Iberia" Piano Solo

Albeniz on eBay

You will find lots of Albeniz related items on eBay, some new, some used, some common, some rare. Always good for a browse - you never know what you may find!

Isaac's Facebook page

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and his Myspace page .....

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If you find a better facebook or myspace page do let me know.

Asturias(Leyenda) - played by John Williams

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Links - Where to go for more information

Here I have merely presented a taster of his life and works. If you would like to know more then I suggest the following websites:

An interesting short biography at: gaudiallgaudi.com

his life and music - Alhambrismo