Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Spain

Birth

:

1976 in Barcelona, Spain

 

Hèctor Parra is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on February 22, 1976, in Barcelona, Spain. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a composer and his mother a pianist. This musical environment had a significant impact on Parra's early life, and he began composing music at a young age. Parra studied music at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona and later at the Paris Conservatory. He also studied with renowned composers such as Brian Ferneyhough, Michael Jarrell, and Philippe Manoury. These experiences helped shape Parra's unique style, which blends elements of contemporary classical music with traditional Spanish and Catalan music. One of Parra's early works, "L'absència," was written in 1999 and premiered at the Festival d'Automne in Paris. This piece showcased Parra's ability to create complex and intricate musical textures, with a focus on the interplay between different instruments. It also demonstrated his interest in exploring themes of absence and loss, which would become recurring motifs in his later works. In 2003, Parra composed "Winternacht," a piece for orchestra that was inspired by the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. This work was commissioned by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and premiered at the Festival Présences in Paris. "Winternacht" is a haunting and atmospheric piece that showcases Parra's ability to create evocative musical landscapes. Parra's interest in exploring themes of absence and loss is evident in his 2005 work "Ausencias," which was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain. This piece is a tribute to the victims of the 2004 Madrid train bombings and features a solo cello that represents the voice of the victims. "Ausencias" is a powerful and emotional work that demonstrates Parra's ability to create music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. In 2008, Parra composed "Hypermusic Prologue," a multimedia work that was commissioned by CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. This piece was inspired by the work of physicist Lisa Randall and explores the concept of extra dimensions in the universe. "Hypermusic Prologue" features a combination of live and recorded music, as well as video projections and spoken text. This work demonstrates Parra's interest in exploring interdisciplinary collaborations and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in classical music. Parra's 2011 work "L'objet invisible" is another example of his interest in interdisciplinary collaborations. This piece was commissioned by the IRCAM-Centre Pompidou and features a combination of live and recorded music, as well as video projections and spoken text. "L'objet invisible" explores the concept of invisibility and features a solo violin that represents the invisible object. This work is a testament to Parra's ability to create music that is both intellectually stimulating and visually engaging. In 2014, Parra composed "Wanderwelle," a piece for orchestra that was commissioned by the Orchestre National de France. This work is inspired by the poetry of Paul Celan and explores themes of displacement and migration. "Wanderwelle" is a powerful and emotional work that showcases Parra's ability to create music that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. Parra's most recent work, "Anacronía," was premiered in 2019 at the Festival d'Automne in Paris.

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