Music Director
Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga
Overture to Los Esclavos Felices
Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga y Balzola (his full name is even longer!) was born in Bilbao, Spain on the 27th of January, 1806.
His love of music and artistic creativity were apparent from an early age and were actively encouraged by his father, though he was of only modest means. As a child Arriaga participated in the frequent musical soirees that were held at the homes of wealthy patrons of the arts in Bilbao. There he was exposed to the chamber music of Haydn and Mozart, which became the models for his own music when he began to compose at the age of eleven.
At fourteen, and with practically no guidance other than his own very sure instincts, he composed the opera Los Esclavos Felices (The Happy Slaves), the overture to which we perform tonight, That same year, 1820, the opera was premiered in Bilbao to enthusiastic acclaim,
Two years later Arriaga's father arranged for him to be sent to Paris in order to study at the great Conservatoire de Musique. There he matriculated in the violin class of Baillot and in the harmony and counterpoint classes of Fetis, the leading teacher of the time. To no one's surprise he excelled in these areas and he was soon given his own classes to teach in the conservatory. At the age of 18, a recognized virtuoso and composer, he published three string quartets. They were an instant success and remain in the repertory to this day.
Tragically, just as his fame was spreading beyond purely musical circles, he was struck by a mysterious disease, thought by many to have been tuberculosis. The young composer died on January 17, 1826, 10 days short of his 20th birthday. His output by then included, in addition to the mentioned opera and string quartets, a theme and variations for string quartet, a cantata, a duo for tenor and bass, several works for violin and piano and for piano solo, a mass and a full symphony.
There can be no doubt that had Arriaga been granted even an average life-span, he would have changed the course of music, not only of Spain, but very possibly that of Europe as well.
Notes by Beth Fisher