Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of 20th-century Spanish music with Roberto Gerhard's "The Duenna," a live recording that brings to life one of the composer's most ambitious works. This album captures the entirety of Gerhard's opera in three acts, a piece that, despite its initial struggles to achieve a fully staged performance, stands as a testament to the composer's unique blend of influences, from Catalan folk music to serialism.
Roberto Gerhard, one of Spain's most prominent composers, pours his creative genius into "The Duenna," an opera that is as much a historical artifact as it is a musical masterpiece. The album, released by mpLive, spans nearly three hours, offering an unparalleled deep dive into Gerhard's compositional aesthetic, shaped by his Catalan roots and his experiences in Cambridge.
The album also includes a bonus violin concerto, adding another layer of Gerhard's musical prowess to the collection. The live recordings, with their raw energy and authenticity, provide a rare opportunity to experience the opera as it was intended to be heard—live and unfiltered.
This album is a treasure trove for fans of classical music, offering a rare chance to explore the work of a composer who, despite his significance, remains relatively unknown. Whether you're a seasoned classical enthusiast or a curious newcomer, "The Duenna" promises an enriching and engaging experience.
2014 Music Preserved2014 Music Preserved
Tracks
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 1, Ah, Devil Take This Plaguey String! - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 2, Don Antonio and Brethren of Deadly Sin - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 3, Are You Moonstruck, Sirrah - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 4, Waking, I Heard Thy Numbers Chide - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 5, What Vagabonds Are Those I Hear? - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 6, Mob of Drunken Revellers Pass By - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 7, Brethren of Deadly Sin - Ad Mortem Festinamus - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 1: No. 8, Vision of Strumpet, Young Cavalier and Bawd - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 2: No. 9, Peace, Booby - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 2: No. 10, Hey Ferdinand, I Say! - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 11, But, My Charming Duenna - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 12, Thou Canst Not Boast of Fortune’s Store - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 13, Entrance of Jerome and Ferdinand: I Suppose You've Been - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 14, I Fear Indeed - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 15, I'm Astounded - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 16, Luisa Escapes - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 17, This Way, This Way Mistress - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 3: No. 18, So, Speed You Well - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 4: No. 19, Luisa and Clara - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 4: No. 20, Clara - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 5: No. 21, I Tell Thee Father - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 5: No. 22, Señor, Are You Disposed to Oblige a Lady - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 1, Scene 5: No. 23, Finale - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 1: No. 24, Donna Clara? - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 1: No. 25, I Wish I Had Even Practised - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 1: No. 26, The Very Rustle of Her Silk - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 1: No. 27, Brr, a Pretty Sort of Velvet Down - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 1: No. 28, Well, My Friend - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 2: No. 29, Were Ever Truant Daughter - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 3: No. 30, Antonio, Isaac, Father Paul: Indeed, My Good Friend - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 3: No. 31, Now Father, How Shall I Hamper Him - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 3: No. 32, End of Act Announcement - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 1: No. 33, I Have Luisa Safe - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 1: No. 34, We Are Come to Ask a Favour - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 1: No. 35, So, Antonio, I Have Met with You at Last - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 1: No. 36, Turn Around, I Pray Thee - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 1: No. 37, How! What Impiety! - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 1: No. 38, Lovers Follow Father Paul to Altar - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 2: No. 39, Why, I Never Was so Amazed - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 2: No. 40, Come, My Charmer - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 2: No. 41, Zounds and Fury, What's Here Now? - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
The Duenna, Act 3, Scene 2: No. 42, Closing Announcement - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Stanford Robinson, Max Worthley, Victoria Sladen, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Violin Concerto: I. Allegro cantabile con anima - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Hermann Scherchen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Violin Concerto: II. Largo - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Hermann Scherchen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Violin Concerto: III. Allegro con brio - LiveRoberto Gerhard, Hermann Scherchen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Roberto Gerhard, born in 1896 in Valls, Catalonia, was a pioneering composer who bridged the musical traditions of Spain and Britain. Initially studying piano with the renowned Enrique Granados and composition with Felipe Pedrell, Gerhard's musical journey took a significant turn when he became a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna and Berlin. This exposure to Schoenberg's innovative techniques deeply influenced Gerhard's own compositional style, leading him to become a central figure in the Catalan avant-garde upon his return to Barcelona in 1928.
Gerhard's music is a rich tapestry of influences, blending Catalan folk music with modern tonal and serial styles. His works span a wide range of genres, including ballets, operas, symphonies, and groundbreaking electronic compositions. He was one of the first electronic composers based in the UK, pushing the boundaries of what music could be. Throughout his career, Gerhard collaborated with notable figures such as Pablo Casals and Joan Miró, further enriching his artistic legacy. His contributions to the world of music are celebrated for their innovation and cultural depth, making Roberto Gerhard one of the most prominent Spanish composers of the 20th century.
Vinylscout
Roberto Gerhard
