Alberto Ginastera
'The great white hope of Argentinian music' - Aaron Copland
Born 11 April 1916 in Buenos Aires was composer Alberto Ginastera, who began writing when very young, but later destroyed his very early works. He studied with Copland at Tanglewood and travelled widely. He composed at first in a nationalistic style, later influenced by European stylistic obsessions. He labelled his own output into three periods - objective nationalism (the direct use of Argentinian folk elements), subjective nationalism (popular music used for structural purposes but not quoted directly) and neo-expressionism (a personal style of avant-garde, similar to that of Alban Berg, and using twelve-tone and random techniques). Ginastera's three operas (Don Rodrigo, Bomarzo and Beatrix Cenci) had success in America and Europe, although they alluded to sex and violence and caused some scandal. He was the first Director (1962) of the Latin-American Centre for Advanced Musical Studies. Widely regarded as Argentina's finest composer, he moved to Switzerland in 1969 and lived until 25 June 1983.
A selection of articles about Alberto Ginastera
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Classical music news. December 2022 Newsletter - Our December 2022 PDF newsletter has just been published
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Profile. Opera is a Whole New World - As rehearsals begin for her new opera, Gabriela Lena Frank talks to Ron Bierman
Ensemble. Whatever He's On, I Want Some - Mike Wheeler listens to Kathryn Stott's Buxton recital
Ensemble. A Higher Synthesis - Adam J Sacks marks the re-convening of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Ensemble. Blaringly Unusual - Maria Nockin listens to Pittance Chamber Music's opening concert
CD Spotlight. Explosive Classics - A Chandos orchestral compilation, enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. '... the programme is as explosive as one can hope for.'
CD Spotlight. Engagingly Delivered - Robert Meyer's 'Discovering the Double Bass', heard by the late Howard Smith. '... a rare and welcome initiative ...'
Ensemble. Stand-out Performers - Michael Landes attends an American Protégé winners' recital
Ensemble. Gallic Elegance - Alexandra Soumm joins Juanjo Mena and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for music by Ginastera, Lalo, Telemann, Bizet and Ravel, impressing Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Winning Flexibility - A recital by Agnieszka Kozlowska and Beate Toyka, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Buzzy Textures - Clare Hammond plays in Nottingham, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. The Flame of Music - Malcolm Troup reports on new arrivals from China and Lithuania at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Festival in London
Ensemble. Brazilian Flags - The Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms, heard by Malcolm Miller
CD Spotlight. Suitable Diligence - A recital by Simone Leitão, heard by Howard Smith. '... diverse rhythms and trenchant physicality are commandingly observed ...'
CD Spotlight. Musical Finesse - Songs by Gregg Kallor, recommended by Howard Smith. 'Go to the top of the class.'
Ensemble. Dancing in the Air - Mary Isaac enjoys a concert of music from Latin America
CD Spotlight. A Striking Urgency - Schnittke and Ginastera from the Choir of St Ignatius Loyola, reviewed by Howard Smith. 'Not quite what one might expect.'
Ensemble. Intense Leadership - Sierra, Ginastera and Rachmaninov conducted by Alasdair Neale, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Urgency and Drama - Dora de Marinis plays Beethoven at the Regent Hall Summer Festival, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller
A Pianistic Firecracker - A lunchtime recital by Tali Morgulis, enjoyed by Malcolm Troup
'Shooting the Pianist'! - The eerie case of a South-American pianistic 'revenant', by Malcolm Troup
CD Spotlight. Something for Everyone - A new CD from The 5 Browns, enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz. '... charming, vivacious, passionate and gorgeously performed.'
CD Spotlight. Beyond Piazzolla - Tangos and dances played by Fionnuala Hunt, reviewed by Malcolm Tattersall. '... relaxing and eminently listenable ...'
The good kind of music - American composer Sean Hickey in conversation with Ted Kendall
Record box. Efficient and sensitive - A Philip Amalong piano recital, reviewed by Patric Standford
CD Spotlight. Subjective nationalism - Music by Alberto Ginastera, explored by Rex Harley. '... stunningly played and gloriously recorded.'
Ensemble. Hot music from Latin America - Malcolm Miller at a highlight of the Regent Hall Summer Festival
Ensemble. Latin American blend - Malcolm Miller applauds Alberto Portugheis in recital
CD Spotlight - Immanent power. '... a musician's musician, one who harvests a composition for its intimacy and expressive nuance.' Walter Hautzig plays dances for the piano, reviewed by John Bell Young
CD Spotlight - Spectral Sounds. 'Dora De Marinis is at once mistress of the situation ...' Ginastera on Naxos, by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight - Incomparable performances. '... refined music making ...' Pola Baytelman plays Albéniz and Ginastera, by John Bell Young