Juanjo Mena, the conductor on this album, was the Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic from 2011 to 2018 and has conducted major orchestras worldwide.
Composition History
The Overture in D major, Op. 20, was composed by Arriaga at the age of fifteen, before he had formally studied harmony.
Recording & Production
This recording adheres to the revised version of the Overture to 'Los esclavos felices', which Arriaga made in Paris, altering instrumentation and removing a theme.
Composer Biography
Arriaga's promising career was cut short by his premature death, possibly from a pulmonary condition, on January 16, 1826, just days before his twentieth birthday.
Composer Biography
Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, born on January 27, 1806, shares his birthday with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born exactly 50 years earlier.
Recording & Production
The Chandos label uses 24-bit / 96 kHz recording technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Cultural Impact
Arriaga is often referred to as the 'Spanish Mozart' or the 'Basque Mozart,' a nickname that contributed to the myth of him as a national genius who died prematurely.
