José de Eusebio

José de Eusebio (born 1966, Madrid) is a Spanish conductor and musicologist. He is particularly known for his work on the neglected operas of the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz.^[1][2]

Life and career

De Eusebio initially trained as a pianist and conductor in Spain with further courses at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and the Mozarteum University of Salzburg. Amongst his teachers were György Kurtág and Vlado Perlemuter. De Eusebio also studied in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar in Dallas with Joaquín Achúcarro (piano), and conducting.^[3]

He served as music director of contemporary music Sax-Ensemble between 1997 and 2002 and has guest conducted all the major Spanish orchestras, including the Spanish National Orchestra, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Community of Madrid Orchestra, Valencia Orchestra, Málaga Philharmonic, Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra, and the Queen Sofía Chamber Orchestra.^[4][5] He has conducted throughout Europe as well as in North and South America and in Asia.^[6]

A specialist in the operatic works of Isaac Albéniz, Eusebio is the editor of the critical editions of the scores for Merlin, Henry Clifford, Pepita Jiménez and San Antonio de la Florida. He conducted the world première of Merlin in its first complete staging (27 May 2003, Teatro Real, Madrid).^[2] His earlier recording of the work received the 2001 Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Recording and his recording of Pepita Jiménez was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Opera Recording.^[7] On 24 January 2009, he conducted the world premiere performance of Henry Clifford with its original English libretto (Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).^[8]

He was one of the classical musicians, and the only Spaniard, who performed in LA at the America: A Tribute to Heroes after the September 11 attacks.^[4]

Selected recordings

Albéniz: Henry Clifford - Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid^[9]

• Conductor: José de Eusebio
• Principal singers: Aquiles Machado (Henry Clifford); Alessandra Marc (Lady Clifford); Carlos Álvarez (Sir John Saint John); Jane Henschel (Lady Saint John); Ana Maria Martínez (Annie Saint John); Christian Immler (Colin); Ángel Rodríguez (Messenger).
• Recording location & date: Auditorio Nacional de Música de Madrid, 19–27 July 2002
• Label: Decca - 473 937-2 (2 CDs)

Albéniz: Pepita Jiménez - Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid^[10]

• Conductor: José de Eusebio
• Principal singers: Carol Vaness (Pepita Jiménez), Plácido Domingo (Don Luis de Vargas), Jane Henschel (Antoñona), Enrique Baquerizo (Don Pedro de Vargas), Carlos Chausson (Vicar), José Antonio López (Count Genazahar) Ángel Rodríguez (1st Officer), Federico Gallar (2nd Officer)
• Recording location & date: Teatro Bulevar, Torrelodones, Madrid, July 2004 and June 2005
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon - 000747202 (CD)

Albéniz: Merlin - Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid^[11]

• Conductor: José de Eusebio
• Principal singers: Carlos Alvarez (Merlin), Plácido Domingo (King Arthur), Jane Henschel (Morgan le Fay), Ana Maria Martinez (Nivian), Carlos Chausson (Archbishop of Canterbury ), Christopher Maltman (Mordred)
• Recording location & date: Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, 1999
• Label: Decca - 467096 (2 CDs)

References

1. Clark, Walter Aaron (2002). Isaac Albeniz: Portrait of a Romantic, p. vii. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-925052-9
2. Johnson, Victoria Stapells (September 2003). "Madrid". Opera Canada. Retrieved 1 September 2013 (subscription required)
3. Gobierno de Canarias (Government of the Canary Islands) (20 January 2009). "La ópera se instala en el Festival de Música de Canarias". Retrieved 1 September 2013 (in Spanish).
4. José de Eusebio. "José de Eusebio". Orquesta de Tenerife. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18.
5. Fundación Música Maestro. "Curso de Dirección Orquestal". Fundación Música Maestro. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
6. "Iberkonzert, Artist Management and Concerts Production - JOSE DE EUSEBIO Biography". Archived from the original on 2014-05-03. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
7. EFE (7 December 2007). "José de Eusebio, candidato al Grammy a la mejor ópera por "Pepita Jiménez". Retrieved 1 September 2013 (in Spanish).
8. Dulce, José (23 January 2009). "España padece un complejo de inferioridad cultural" Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine (Interview: José de Eusebio). El Día. Retrieved 1 September 2013 (in Spanish).
9. "Recording Review: Albeniz: Henry Clifford". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
10. Holland, Bernard. (11 March 2007). "A Memento of Romantic Spain ". New York Times. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
11. Vasta, Stephen Francis (March 2001). "Recording Review: Albéniz: Merlin", Opera News. Retrieved 1 September 2013 (subscription required).

External links

• José de Eusebio official web site Archived 2012-04-04 at the Wayback Machine