Description
Under the title Amoroso pensamiento (a text by Miguel de Cervantes, one of the world's greatest writers), we present a very special selection of works by great musical personalities and texts by writers who contributed to the splendour of the Baroque era in Spain. The Siglo de Oro is known as the "Golden Age" of Spain, as philosophy, art, music and literature flourished in the period from 1492 to 1681.
Among the most important composers of this period, we have selected Juan Hidalgo (1614-1685), Juan Aranes (1580-1649) and Jose Marin (1618-1699). Most of these vocal works belong to the "zarzuelas" (the Spanish homonym for Baroque opera). Zarzuelas were of great importance in 17th century Spain: famous composers and writers came together to create these works. The term "zarzuela" (not "opera", as in other European countries) is since the first performances took place in the "Teatro del Palacio de la Zarzuela" in Madrid for the Spanish court.
The texts were written by the most important writers of the time: Jorge de Montemayor (1520-1561), Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), Felix Lope de Vega (1562-1635), Luis Velez de Guevara (1579-1639), Pedro Calderon de la Barca (1600-1681) and Agustin de Salazar y Torres (1636-1675).
The three most brilliant musicians who composed for the Baroque guitar were Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710), Francisco Guerau (1649-1722) and Santiago de Murcia (1673-1739), twelve exemplary pieces of which are presented here.
After studying singing and acting at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Isabel Alvarez specialised in the world of Baroque, classical and contemporary opera. She has appeared in numerous theatres, sung oratorios and Baroque music in recitals at international festivals and in famous halls and auditoriums. She has performed with the most renowned early music ensembles. Isabel Alvarez is Professor of Singing at the Conservatory of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Carlos Oramas studied at the conservatories of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid and Luxembourg as well as at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. He has won prizes in various competitions and was awarded the Replica Prize for the poetic-musical show Todo el Cielo by Unahoramenos Producciones (Canary Islands, 2020). He has performed as a soloist with the Luxembourg Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and the Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, as well as at various festivals. Carlos Oramas currently teaches Renaissance and Baroque plucked instruments at the Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Canarias.
