SONG OF THE STARS--A Long-Lost Choral Masterpiece by Enrique Granados
by Douglas Riva
(Spain--USA)
SONG OF THE STARS (Cant de les estrelles), a long-lost choral masterpiece by Enrique Granados has been recovered. The work was performed by the composer in 1911 and lost until I performed it with Voices of Ascension directed by Dennis Keene in March, 2007. Naxos recorded the New York concert and will issue a CD in June, 2009.
A pdf file with an extract of the score is available for study. A CDR of the recording is available, as well.
A brief history of the work follows:
Granados' masterpiece SONG OF THE STARS (CANT DE LES ESTRELLES) was premiered on March 11, 1911 by the composer at Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana. In spite its great success this ambitious work for piano, organ and three choirs (SATB choir divided and antiphonal SA) with an non-attributed Catalan text, the piece was not performed nor published for almost 100 years. The manuscript was presumed to be lost for decades.
Recently, pianist and Granados specialist DOUGLAS RIVA recovered SONG OF THE STARS, comparable to a piano concerto with chorus and organ, rather than orchestra. Approximately 15 min. in length, the work opens with an extended piano solo, the divided SATB chorus and an antiphonal SA chorus sing of the infinite vastness and stillness of space, their longing for the freedom to fly and their compassion for man weakened by love. The text, probably by Granados himself, was inspired by a poem by Heinrich Heine.
SONG OF THE STARS (Cant de les estrelles) was performed for the second time on March 22, 2007 by Douglas Riva and Voices of Ascension, directed by Dennis Keene. The AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE review (July,2007) of the concert commented: "Its expressive effect was breathtaking."
The UK Premiere of SONG OF THE STARS took place in London at Queen Elizabeth Hall on May 16, 2008 with Douglas Riva, piano and the Coro Cervantes and Cardiff Polyphonic Choir conducted by Carlos Fernández Aransay. The Times of London cited the concert as the No. 1 of the "Top Five" concerts of the week.
