José Carreras
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Season 2012 José Carreras sings Misa Criolla Written in 1963 by Ariel Ramirez, Misa Criolla has become one of the most wellknownand oft-performed South American choral works throughout the world. A product of the composer's long study of Argentine folk music, the piece synthesizes popular and liturgical styles, drawing on the rhythms and melodies of Argentina and other South American cultures. Almost 25 years after its birth, millions of CD's of the piece were sold when José Carreras recorded it in1988. Producciones Lastra S.L – C/ Estrella Polar 12, 5º - 28007 - Madrid Producciones Lastra has represented and produced all the Misa Criolla tours interpreted by Ariel Ramirez and José Carreras since 1987. José Carreras Misa Criolla Piano: Lorenzo Bavaj Musicians: Grupo Alturas José Carreras occupies a privileged position in La Bohème, Tosca, Werther, Don Carlo, the music world. Born in Barcelona, he studied Carmen, La Forza del Destino, I Pagliacci, music in his hometown. In 1970 he started his L’Elisir d’Amore and Un Ballo in Maschera. professional career in the Gran Teatre del Liceu of Barcelona with Nabucco and Lucrezia Borgia. Together with his opera activities, he has given frequent recitals in the world’s most His meteoric musical career resulted in early famous halls. He has performed at Carnegie debuts at the world’s most prestigious opera Hall and the Avery Fisher Hall of New York; theatres and festivals, including the Teatro alla the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and the Scala of Milan (“Un Ballo in Maschera”, 1975); Royal Albert Hall in London; the Salle Pleyel the New York Metropolitan Opera House in Paris, at the Musikverein and Konzerthaus (“Tosca”, 1974); San Francisco Opera (“La of Vienna, the Berlin Philharmonie, Suntory Bohème”, 1973); the Vienna Staatsoper Hall and the NHK Hall in Tokyo, the Grosses (“Rigoletto”, 1974); London’s Royal Opera Festspielhaus of Salzburg, the Philarmonie House (“La Traviata”, 1974); The Oper of and the Hercules Saal of Munich. Munich (“Tosca”, 1974); Chicago’s Lyrics Opera (“Un Ballo in Maschera”, 1976); and the Festivals of Salzburg (“Don Carlo”, 1976); Aix en Provence (“Roberto Devereux”, 1977); Edinburgh (“Verdi Requiem”, 1982) and Verona (“Carmen”, 1984). José Carreras has collaborated with the most renowned orchestra conductors, among others Herbert von Karajan (an artistic and personal relationship which lasted over twelve years and included performances in Salzburg, Berlin and Vienna), Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Chailly, Colin Davis, Giuseppe Sinopoli, James Levine, Carlo Maria Giulini, Leonard Bernstein and Zubin Metha, and with pre-eminent stage directors such as: Franco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3HdUgHktg Zeffirelli, Jean Pierre Ponnelle, Giorgio Strehler, Luigi Comencini, Harold Prince. His repertoire includes over sixty operas, of which the following stand out: Andrea Chenier 2 Producciones Lastra S.L - C/ Estrella Polar 12, 5º Izq. (28007) Madrid – Tel: 91 521 77 23 - Mov: 676 929 479 - E-mail: [email protected] His wide concert repertoire includes over 600 titles of the most diverse styles ranging from the baroque to José Carreras Awards contemporary music.. His extensive discography includes over 150 recordings, notably 50 complete In 2004 he received the Civil operas,oratories, popular and classical recitals. He has Order Golden Cross of the been awarded many Gold and Platinum Discs world- Social Solidarity bestowed by wide. Her Majesty the Queen of Spain, doña Sofía; the José Carreras has performed the leading role in National Order Steaua several operatic films for Television, Cinema and Video, including La Bohème, I Lombardi, Andrea Romaniei (Etoile de la Chenier, Turandot, Carmen, Missa de Rèquiem de Roumanie) of Romania in a Verdi, Don Carlo, La Forza del Destino, Stiffelio, degree of Grand Officer and Fedora and Jerusalem. the Big Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic As for his cinema activities, two films stand out: of Germany. Romanza Final, in which José Carreras portrays the life of Julián Gayarre and A Life Story, a report on Mr. He has also been awarded the Carreras life and artistic career. A Life Story, title Doctor Honoris Causa by nominated in Hollywood, was awarded an the University of Barcelona International Emmy Award in 1993 by the Academy of (Spain), the Universities of Arts and Sciences of the US Television. Loughborough and Sheffield Among the numerous national and international prizes (United Kingdom), the and distinctions which have been bestowed upon José University Mendeleyev of Carreras, there are the Grand Prix du Disque from the Moscow (Russia), the Academy of Paris; the Luigi Illica Prize; a 1991 University of Camerino Grammy Award; the Sir Lawrence Olivier Award for his (Italy), the Napier University performance in “Stiffelio” at the Royal Opera House, in Edinburgh (Scotland), the Covent Garden; Kammersänger and Lifetime Honorary Rutgers University (United Member of the Vienna Staatsoper; Honorary Member of the London Royal Academy of Music; he received States), the Miguel Hernández the Gold Medal of the New York Spanish Institute; the University of Elche (Spain), Gold Medal of the City of Vienna ; the Gold Medal of the University of Coimbra Fine Arts bestowed by His Majesty the King of Spain; (Portugal), the National the Gold Medal of the City of Barcelona; the Gold University of Music in Medal of the Generalitat of Catalunya; Prince of Bucharest (Romania) , the Asturias Award 1991; and The Albert Schweitzer Music University of Marburg Award 1996. He is Honorary President of the London (Germany) and, most Arts Orchestra. recently, the University of He is Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Pécs (Hungary). and Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur de la République Française; Gran Croce di Cavaliere and Grande Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana; Honour Medal of the Bavarian Government, Grand Honour Award of the Austrian Republic, Komandor’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic, Commandeur de la Médaille du Sahametrei of the Royal Cambodian Government and Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO. 3 Producciones Lastra S.L - C/ Estrella Polar 12, 5º Izq. (28007) Madrid – Tel: 91 521 77 23 - Mov: 676 929 479 - E-mail: [email protected] He has also been awarded the title Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Barcelona (Spain), the Universities of Loughborough and Sheffield (United Kingdom), the University Mendeleyev of Moscow (Russia), the University of Camerino (Italy), the Napier University in Edinburgh (Scotland), the Rutgers University (United States), the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Spain), the University of Coimbra (Portugal), the National University of Music in Bucharest (Romania) , the University of Marburg (Germany) and, most recently, the University of Pécs (Hungary). In 1992 José Carreras was engaged as Musical Director of the memorable Olympic Games held in Barcelona. The 3 Tenors concerts offered by José Carreras together with his colleagues Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, are now legendary. Followed by world-wide audiences of over two billion, they have created an unprecedented impact in the world of opera. José Carreras sings Misa Criolla Japan Tour 2005 Since 1988, in addition to his professional Nothing better exemplifies the variety to be activities, he presides with total dedication and heard in the Misa Criolla, though, than the enthusiasm over the “José Carreras way it ranges from the Gloria, with its hints International Leukaemia Foundation” of South American carnival, to the final Agnus established in Barcelona and with branches in Dei with harpsichord accompaniment. the United States, Switzerland and Germany. Currently his Leukaemia Foundation is one of The first recording of the Misa Criolla took his most important goals and priorities. place in 1964, sung by the choir of the Basílica del Socorro and the folkloric male Misa Criolla quartet 'Los Fronterizos', who sang the soloist parts either one by one or together. The first Entirely based on traditional rhythms live performance took place in Colón Theatre (chacarera, carnavalito, estilo pampeano), it is in Buenos Aires in 1965 , the first European also one of the first masses to be celebrated in performances were in March 1967, when a modern language - being contemporary to Philips organized a tour of Ramírez and his the Second Vatican Counc. Ariel Ramirez, born musicians in 7 European countries, starting in in 1921, draws on the metres and rhythms of Amsterdam. Latin-American music, and employs dance forms from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru; it is The score was edited in 1965 in Buenos music that is heartwarmingly approachable, of Aires, together with the score of the a light, devotional kind. In trying to Christmas cantata Navidad Nuestra. The Misa characterize it I was reminded of parts of Orff's Criolla became extremely popular. It was Carmina burana and Britten's church parables, sung all over the world and its recordings though here the accompaniment to soloists were sold in huge amounts. Almost 25 years and chorus is provided by varying instrumental after its birth, millions of CD's of the piece combinations including, besides percussion, a were sold when José Carreras recorded it in guitar, accordion, five-string charango and 1988. various other Latin-American folk instruments. 4 Producciones Lastra S.L - C/ Estrella Polar 12, 5º Izq. (28007) Madrid – Tel: 91 521 77 23 - Mov: 676 929 479 - E-mail: [email protected] Press releases 1. Carreras cantará en el Palau la 'Misa Criolla' y dúos con Teresa Salgueiro “Barcelona--Josep Carreras presentó anoche en un hotel barcelonés los dos próximos conciertos del Festival del Mil.leni con encendidos elogios a la música de...” http://www.jcarreras.com/articles/2000/epo01052000. stm 2. Noche Hispanica at the Arena di Verona: Before and After “Tomorrow's concert will be very important for me, almost more important than the Gala which was an honour for me professionally...” http://www.jcarreras.com/contribute/c_artic015.htm 3.