Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

Spain

Birth

:

March 4, 1915 in Barcelona, Spain

Death

:

November 12, 1997 in New Haven, CT

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Vocal

 

Carlos Surinach was a Spanish composer who was born on March 4, 1915, in Gerona, Catalonia. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Surinach began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and violin with his father. He later attended the Barcelona Conservatory, where he studied composition with Joan Massià and conducting with Eduard Toldrà. In 1936, Surinach moved to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger, one of the most influential composition teachers of the 20th century. While in Paris, he also studied with Arthur Honegger and Darius Milhaud. Surinach's time in Paris was cut short by the outbreak of World War II, and he returned to Spain in 1939. After the war, Surinach moved to the United States, where he settled in New York City. He quickly became involved in the city's vibrant music scene, working as a conductor, composer, and arranger. He also taught at the Mannes School of Music and the Juilliard School. Surinach's music was heavily influenced by his Spanish heritage, as well as the folk music of other cultures. He was particularly interested in the music of the Roma people, and incorporated elements of flamenco and other Spanish folk music into his compositions. He also drew inspiration from the music of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. One of Surinach's most famous works is his ballet "Ritmo Jondo," which was commissioned by the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1953. The ballet is set to music that combines elements of flamenco and African rhythms, and tells the story of a young woman's journey from innocence to experience. "Ritmo Jondo" was a critical and commercial success, and helped establish Surinach as one of the leading composers of his generation. Surinach's other notable works include his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1961, and his "Sinfonietta Flamenca," which was commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra in 1963. He also wrote music for films, including the 1961 documentary "The Savage Eye." In addition to his work as a composer, Surinach was also a respected conductor. He conducted the premiere of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" at the Kennedy Center in 1971, and also conducted the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among others. Surinach continued to compose and conduct throughout his life, and was widely regarded as one of the most important composers of his generation. He died on November 12, 1997, in New Haven, Connecticut, at the age of 82. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and celebrated by musicians and audiences around the world.

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