Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Spain

Birth

:

15th c.

Death

:

15th c.

Period

:

Medieval

 

 

Renaissance

 

Enrique Granados was a Spanish composer and pianist who lived from 1867 to 1916. He was born in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, to a family of musicians. His father, Calixto Granados, was a pianist and composer, and his mother, Enriqueta Campiña, was a singer. From a young age, Granados showed a talent for music, and he began studying piano with his father when he was just four years old. Granados continued his musical education at the Barcelona Conservatory, where he studied piano, composition, and harmony. He was a gifted student, and he won several awards and prizes for his compositions. In 1887, he moved to Paris to study with the renowned pianist Charles-Wilfrid de Bériot. While in Paris, Granados was exposed to the music of the French Impressionists, which had a profound influence on his own compositions. Granados returned to Barcelona in 1889, where he established himself as a pianist and composer. He became known for his virtuosic piano playing and his lyrical, expressive compositions. In 1892, he married Amparo Gal, with whom he had six children. One of Granados' most famous works is his suite for piano, Goyescas, which he composed between 1909 and 1911. The suite is inspired by the paintings of Francisco Goya, and it captures the spirit of Spanish folk music and dance. The suite was premiered in 1911, and it was an immediate success. It has since become one of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire. In addition to his compositions for piano, Granados also wrote several operas. His most famous opera is María del Carmen, which he composed between 1898 and 1903. The opera is set in a small Spanish village and tells the story of a young woman who is torn between two suitors. The opera premiered in 1898 and was a critical and commercial success. Granados was also a prolific composer of songs, many of which were inspired by the poetry of his friend, the Catalan poet Apel·les Mestres. His songs are known for their beautiful melodies and their sensitive settings of the text. In 1916, Granados traveled to the United States to perform a series of concerts. While in New York, he was invited to perform at the White House for President Woodrow Wilson. After the concert, Granados and his wife boarded a ship to return to Spain. Tragically, the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine, and both Granados and his wife were killed. Granados' death was a great loss to the world of music. He was a gifted composer and pianist who had a profound influence on the development of Spanish music. His compositions are known for their lyricism, their sensitivity, and their evocation of the spirit of Spain. Today, his music continues to be performed and loved by audiences around the world.

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