Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1920

Death

:

1984

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Manuel Valls was a Spanish composer who lived from 1920 to 1984. He was born in Barcelona, Spain, and showed an early interest in music. His parents were both musicians, and they encouraged him to pursue his passion for music. Valls began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano and music theory. He showed great talent and was soon performing in public. At the age of 12, he began studying composition with the renowned Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Valls continued his studies in music theory and composition at the Barcelona Conservatory, where he was a student of the composer Roberto Gerhard. He also studied orchestration with the conductor Eduard Toldrà. In 1940, Valls moved to Paris to continue his studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He studied composition with the French composer Olivier Messiaen, who had a profound influence on his music. Valls also studied conducting with the conductor Charles Munch. Valls' music is characterized by its lyricism, its use of Spanish folk melodies, and its incorporation of elements of French impressionism. His early works were influenced by the music of Debussy and Ravel, but he later developed his own unique style. One of Valls' most famous works is his ballet El Amor Brujo (Love, the Magician), which was first performed in 1949. The ballet tells the story of a young woman who is haunted by the ghost of her former lover. The music is based on Spanish folk melodies and features a prominent role for the guitar. Another notable work by Valls is his opera La Casa de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba), which was first performed in 1979. The opera is based on the play by the Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca and tells the story of a tyrannical mother and her five daughters. The music is characterized by its use of Spanish rhythms and melodies. Valls also wrote a number of orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 1, which was first performed in 1955. The symphony is characterized by its use of lush harmonies and its incorporation of Spanish folk melodies. In addition to his work as a composer, Valls was also a respected conductor. He conducted many of his own works as well as the works of other composers. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Debussy and Ravel. Valls received many honors and awards during his lifetime, including the National Music Prize of Spain in 1978. He was also a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. Manuel Valls died in 1984 at the age of 64. His music continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

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