Repertoire
GLAZUNOV: Concerto Ballata in C major, Op. 108 for cello and orchestra
GASPAR CASSADÓ: Nocturns Portuguesos. Esquisses Symphoniques for cello and orchestra
PAU CASALS/ENRIC CASALS: Sant Martí del Canigó
Artists
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Jordi Bernàcer, conductor
Damián Martínez, cello
Program
The Pau Casals tribute album features the first recording of Nocturns Portuguesos by G. Cassadó, with soloist Damián Martínez and conductor Jordi Bernàcer.Barcelona Symphony Orchestra presents a new album, recorded last summer and focusing on the figure of Pau Casals. The CD, released under theWarner Classicslabel, captures the very essence of Casals, with works by Gaspar Cassadó, Glazunov and Casals himself. Indeed, the album contains the first ever world recording of Nocturns PortuguesosbyGaspar Cassadó , a protégé of Pau Casals. This is a deeply poetic piece, written following a visit to Portugal that fascinated its composer, inspiring him to draw on popular songs from the country. Nocturns Portuguesos was premiered in April 1933, in Madrid, performed by the Madrid Symphony Orchestra conducted by Enrique Fernández Arbós. To make the recording, the handwritten score kept at the National Library of Catalonia had to be used. The album also features Concerto Ballata in C major, Op. 108 by Glazunov, dedicated to Pau Casals and previously performed on only a handful of occasions. The third work featured on the album is the Sant Martí del Canigó sardana composed by Pau Casals himself and arranged for orchestra by his brother Enric Casals. The recording of these three works took place in Pau Casals Hall at L’Auditori, featuring cellist Damián Martínez and conducted by Jordi Bernàcer.
