Composer of the Month 9/2011: Jesús Guridi   (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

Spain 22.4.1983    The Spanish composer Jesús Guridi was born on 25 September 1886 in Vitoria-Gasteiz. First music lessons he received from his parents, who also were musicians. He attended the music schools in Madrid and Bilbao, and - aged 18 years - enrolled at the "Schola Cantorum" in Paris, where Vincent d'Indy was one of his teacher. For additional studies he visited Brussels and Cologne. Guridis compositions are influenced by Richard Wagner and the late Romantics. However, he took considerable inspiration from the Basque folklore. Guridi is one of the most popular zarzuela composers, a special Spanish form of operetta. His extensive work also includes chamber music, choral music, symphonic works and operas. His best known works are the opera "Amaya" (1920), the Zarzuela "El Caserio" (1926) and the symphonic work "Diez Melodias Vascas" (1940). Jesús Guridi died on 7 April 1961 in Madrid. In September 2011, his birth anniversary comes up again for the 125th time, in April 2011 was his 50th death anniversary. The video shows Marta Moreno and Enrique R. del Portal with a duet from the Zarzuela "El Caserio" (Teatro Arriaga de Bilbao). More composer can be found in the members only section