Usandizaga: Mendi Mendiyan (High in the Mountains)
2/1/2005, 25 Tracks, 1:34:54
Featuring
Juanjo Mena
Tatiana Davidova
Juan Lomba
Marta Ubieta
Santos Ariño
José Antonio Carril
Alfonso Echeverría
José Manuel Tife Iparragirre
Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao
Coral Andra Mari
Jose Maria Usandizaga
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Composer Biography
José María Usandizaga, the composer of "Mendi Mendiyan," initially seemed destined for a career as a piano soloist until an arterial disease in one of his hands led him to focus on composition.
Composition History
The libretto for "Mendi Mendiyan" was written by José Power, president of the Bilbao choral society, and then translated into Basque by poet José Artola, due to the absence of a Basque-language theatrical tradition.
Compositional Technique
Usandizaga structured "Mendi Mendiyan" using a system of leitmotifs, influenced by Wagner, to characterize characters, situations, and states of mind through changing harmonies, orchestration, or rhythms.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Usandizaga's "Mendi Mendiyan" attempts to create an authentically Basque operatic style, drawing inspiration from folk motifs, songs, and dances suitable for theatrical representation of Basque life.
Composition History
"Mendi Mendiyan," a pastoral folk-opera, was first performed in Bilbao in 1910 and was a significant work in the nascent Basque nationalist movement.
Recording & Production
This recording of "Mendi Mendiyan" is a world premiere recording and was made at Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao, from June 25th to 29th, 2001.
