ELISENDA FÁBREGAS

Spanish/American composer Elisenda Fábregas (b. 1955, Terrassa, Catalonia) is currently settled in Catalunya after living and working in Seoul as a Visiting Professor of music and cultural studies at Kyung-Hee University Humanitas College (Global Campus). She was a Post-Doctoral Fulbright scholar and holds doctorates from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in music composition (DMA, 2011), and from Columbia University Teachers College in education (Ed.D. 1992); she also received a Masters and Bachelors in piano performance from The Juilliard School (1982-83). Before studying and living in the US, she  completed the highest studies as a pianist in Barcelona. During her early career, Elisenda performed as a pianist throughout Europe and the US, including a Carnegie Recital Hall debut in New York City in 1983. These experiences and training as a performer ultimately propelled her towards musical composition. She has written compositions for symphonic orchestra, wind ensemble, large mixed ensemble, triple concerto (piano, vln, vlc), cello concerto, choir with string quartet, choir with orchestra, a cappella choir, percussion ensemble, chamber music (quartets, trios and duos, some incl. guitar), song cycles with piano (incl. soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone); solo instrumental (violin, cello, flute, harp), and solo piano works. Elisenda’s compositions have been the subjects of doctoral thesis in America, South Korea and Spanish universities. In 2000, Elisenda received the Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year Award from the Music Teachers National Association in Washington D.C. for her piano work Portraits I.  Recordings of Elisenda’s compositions have been released on Naxos, Bridge Records, Haenssler (Profil Edition), Albany Records, Centaur Records, Mundo Arts, Odradek and NCA Classical Adventure Records; and her music is published by Hofmeister MusikVerlag (Leipzig, Germany), Alphonse Leduc & Cie. (Paris.), and Hidden Oaks Music Co.

UPCOMING & RECENT

PERFORMANCES & NEWS

Upcoming and recent Performances & Recording projects

  • On June 8, 2023, Canadian Pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko will perform the world premiere of a newly written work for him titledSomnis radiants (Radiant dreams), at the Ruhr-Klavier Festival in Essen, Germany  as well as at the Festival Pianino at the Cartuja de Valldemosa (Mallorca) on June 8, 2023, and at the Auditorio Nacional de Musica de Madrid on June 14, 2023.  On March 11, 2023, he performed the Catalan premiere of Image (a movement from Portraits) at Jardi dels Tarongers (Casa bartomeu) (Barcelona)This concert was sponsored by the Maria Canals Piano Competition. Jaeden also performed Image on February 17, at Teatro Villamarta (Jerez de la Frontera).  Jaeden Izik-Dzurko (first prize winner of the 2022 Paloma O’Shea Santander Piano Competition and the 2022 Maria Canals Int. Piano Competition) performed two movements of Portraits at the Festival de Musica Isaac Albeniz 2022 on August 7, 2022, at the Monestir de San Pere in Camprodon.  Video of round II of Maria Canals Competition performance.
  • Five Songs based on poems by F. Garcia Lorca (1986) for soprano and piano was performed at Festival Musika-Música de Bilbao, in Palacio Euskaldunafestival on March 4, 2023, by soprano Naroa Intxausti and pianist Aurelio Viribay in a recital dedicated to songs based on poetry by Federico García Lorca.
  • Parlen les dones (Women speak) (2023) for mezzo, SATB choir and chamber orchestra, commissioned by El Cor Canta, was premiered by mezzo-soprano Marta Infante, el Cor Canta, and Orchestra de Cambra Terrassa 48,  on March 5, 2023, at  L’Auditori de Barcelona (Sala Pau Casals), and on March 11 at the Auditori Municipal Enric Granados of Lerida (Catalunya). Parlen les dones is based on four poems by Catalan author Montserrat Abelló.  El Cor Canta is  a group that consists of 150 amateur singers that work with various professional chamber orchestras and soloists, conducted by Elisenda Carrasco and Eva Martínez.
  • Aires Catalans (2023), is a new work commissioned by Orquestra de Cambra Terrassa 48, based on Catalan traditional songs.  It will be premiered on April 23, 2023, at Auditori Municipal de Terrassa in a concert homage to Catalan poet Maria Merce Marçal titled ‘Cau de Llunes‘. Further performances are planned.
  • Uphill: from Clara to Robert for cello & piano (2021) was written for and dedicated to the Duo of cellist Roger Morelló Ros and pianist Anna Khomichkho. Uphill was inspired by a 16th century poem of Pedro Padilla, and also inspired by Clara’s feelings over her caring of Robert and the interruption of her composing activities.
    • September 10, 2022 (premiere) at  Schlos Heiligenberg;
    • September 9 at Kulturkirche Epiphanias, Manheim.
    • September 24 , 19:30, in Burscheid, sponsored by Kultuverein Burscheid;
    • November 25 at the Nikodemus Kulturkirche, Berlin;
    • November 26, 18:00, at the Festival Gerhart-Hauptmann-Festtage in Gerhart-Hauptmann-Museum in Erkner, near Berlin;
    • December 15 (private), December 16 (open to the public), at Palau Güell in Barcelona
    • January 8, 2023 – Schumann Haus in Zwickau
    • March 31, 2023, ain Rathaus Zittau, Germany.
    • May 20, 2023, Sommer Kloster Medingen, Germany
    • May 24, 2023, Friedenskirche Wilhelmshavener Stadtnorden, Germany
    • May 25, 2023, Tchaikovsky Saal, Hamburg, Germany
    • May 26, 2023, Kultur – und Bürgerhaus in Marne (near Hamburg), Germany
    • May 27, 2023 – Stunde der Musik – Sanitz (Germany)
    • June  3, 2023 – Kulturplatz Dübendorf, Switzerland.
    • June 4, 2023 – Kirchengemeinde Moers, Germany
    • June 6, 2023 – Schloss Bonndorf (Germany)
    • Danses de la terra (2020) for solo cello was written for cellist Roger Morelló Ross who premiered this work at Palau Güell in Barcelona on October 28, 2021.  Although not literally based on traditional Catalan music, this work is inspired by the composer’s childhood memories of Catalonian dances and folk music. As a Catalan living outside Catalonia since 1978, the author recreates a Catalan sound world of melodic and rhythmic folk idioms tinged with emotions from her childhood. This work consists of four dances: I. Ball d’entrada (Opening dance); II. Ball ceremonial de purificació (Ceremonial dance of purification); III. Dansa de rondalla amorosa (Dance of amorous tale; IV. Records de sardana (Memories of sardana) and was recorded on a CD titled La veu de Casals by Roger at the German radio SWR (Südwestrundfunk) in early December 2022, with funding from Deutscher Musikrat Foundation and support from The Pau Casals Foundation. The CD will be released in April 2023 on IBS Classical. Performances by cellist Roger Morelló Ross :
    • July 2, 2022 – Hauptkirche Betae Mariae Virginis – Wolfenbüttel, Germany – near Hannover.
    • August 7, 2022, at the International Music Festival d’Altafulla (Tarragona, Spain)
    • November 12, 2022 – Official German premiere at Genezaretkirche Erkner (near Berlin), opening the festival “Gerhart-Hauptmann-Festtage”.
    • November 20, 2022 – Teatre La Salle (Reus, Spain)
    • February 19, 2023 – Auditori Josep Carreras
    • February 20, 2023 – Col.legi Major “Penyafort-Montserrat” de la Universitat de Barcelona
    • March 18, 2023 – Hinterhofsalon – Köln (Germany)
    • April 29, 2023, Casal Societat La Principal of Vilafranca del Penedés (Tarragona).
    • June 2, 2023 Frechen (Germany)June 30, 2023, Ducth premiere at
    • Waalse Kerk de Breda, Holanda.
    • July 1, 2023 “Donnersbergiade” in Jagdhaus – Dannenfels (Germany)
    • September 23, 2023 – Auditori Pau Casals (Catalunya, Spain)
  • Amalia Tortajada, flute and Andrea González, guitar, performed Goyescas for flute and guitar at the MNAA Auditorio (Museu nacional de Arte Antica) in Lisboa (Portugal) on December 13, 2022. It was streamed live on Antena 2 RTP de Portugal.  Goyescas was presented as part of in their first album  ‘SERENATAS’  at the Serenades Festival – Centre Cultural Nau, Institut Valencia, University of Valencia (Spain) on June 29, 2022. The program titled Women and Art and Goyescas for flute and guitar was a premiere in Spain. Both performers joined forces in this very personal project, giving life to IDENTIDADE, an inspiring project that, in addition to promoting music written and performed by women, has the purpose of promoting and giving value to the work of women from different cultures in various artistic fields. IDENTIDADE included four premieres of works by composers Gabriela Ortiz (Mexico), Clarice Assad (Brazil), Elisenda Fábregas (Spain) and Johanny Navarro (Puerto Rico). More information on the concertListen to the recording.
  • A recording of Sonata for flute and piano (1995) (published by Alphonse Leduc Cie.), was made by Singapore based Spanish flutist Roberto Alvarez and Ukranian pianist Kseniia Vokhmianina and released on the Odradek label on June 3, 2022.  The CD titled “The Whirlwind Within”, was promoted  in The Whirlwind Tour, with performances in Europe, among them in Madrid (June 3 and  7), at the International Festival in Deiá (Mallorca on June 9 and 10), Zurich (June 12), and Montesilvano (Italia) (June 15).  In this challenging Sonata, the piano is an equal partner with the flute, and Roberto and Kseniia both exhibit a “superlative musicianship and extraordinary technical mastery.” I am very excited about this recording! Review of the concert at the Esplanade (Singapore) on May 15, 2022.
  • The Agrupació Cultural Folklòrica Barcelona in collaboration with Músics per la Cobla commissioned a new work for the Memorial Joaquim Serra 2022. The new work titled Castell de Miravet for cobla and percussion will celebrate the hundred years aniversary of Agrupació Cultural Folklòrica Barcelona on Novembre 21, 2022, 19:00, at the “Teatre del Casino de la Aliança del Poble Nou” in Barcelona. The new composition will be premiered by Cobla Sant Jordi- ciutat de Barcelona, conducted by Marcel Sabaté. Castell de Miravet was recorded on June 28, 2022. (Cobla is a Catalan traditional wind ensemble composed of 11 players.)
  • Dos Colores Andaluces (arr. for cello solo for Roger Morello Ros). Morelló premiered this work on March 4, 2022, at Kulturkirche Ost in Cologne;  later on May 11 was performed at Ufa Fabrik Berlin with the Babylon orchestra and a recording on May 13 and 15.
  • Accents Catalans (2016) received its Spanish/Catalonian premiere in two performances by the San Cugat Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Salvador Brotons on March 11, 20:00, at Teatre-Auditori of Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona; and on March 20, 19:00, at Teatre La Massa, Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona. The concert  included Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1 and a work by Chaminade.
  • Accents Catalans for orchestra (2016) recently received its USA premiere by the Florida Orchestra under the direction of Stuart Malina in a performance dedicated to the music of Spain: February 23, 2022, at Ruth Eckerd Hall; Clearwater, FL USA.
  • The West Coast Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Elise Chong recently performed the Australian premiere of Accents Catalans for orchestra on October 9 at 7:3 pm at Winthrop Hall, UWA. This work was premiered by the Bucheon Philharmonic and maestro Youngmin Park in April of 2016 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The program was:
  •    CHABRIER | España
       TORROBA | Sonatina with guest artist Melissa Fitzgerald
       BIZET | Carmen Suite No. 1, and Mvts. 7 & 9 from Suite No. 2
       FÁBREGAS | Accents Catalans *Australian Premiere*
       RAVEL | Rapsodie Espagnole
       DE FALLA | “Final Dance” from The Three-Cornered
  • “Masks” for clarinet, cello & piano (2019/21) was performed at the Toledo Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series at the Peristyle on October 3, 2021, by Amy Chang, cello Georg Klaas, and clarinet Frances Renzi, piano. The concert included also works by Grażyna Bacewicz, Yvonne Desportes; Haruka Fujii; and Kala Ramnath. Video of performance.
  • Masks for cla, vlc, pno (2019/21) was performed ‘live’ at Thomas Piercy “Tokyo to New York” Celebration on September 12, 5 PM, at Scorca Hall, National Opera Center, 330 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001. The concert included many international composers!
  • Duende for solo cello is originally one of the pieces from the collection Colores Andaluces for cello & piano. Duende was arranged for solo cello for Roger Morello Ross who premiered it at the opening concert of the chamber concert series commemorating the centenary of the Association of Concerts of Reus. Duende was performed again by Roger Morelló: on September 17, 2021, at Stiftung Florinskirche in Koblenz (Germany); on August 7, 2021, at Sant Pere de Belltall, Belltall (Tarragona, Spain) during the celebration of ‘la Festa de l’All‘; on October 11, 2020, at BasilikaMusik St. Aposteln Köln in Cologne; and on October 16 at the ‘Opening Concert of the Chamber Music Series that commemorates de Association of Concerts in Reus’, Tarragona (Spain).
  • A newly edited version of ‘Masks for clarinet, cello & piano‘ had the Catalonian premiere on April 23 and 24 in Tarragona, Spain, at a beautiful modernist church Esglesia del Sagrat Cor de Vistabella within the concert series titled Primavera Musical a Vistabella (Musical Spring in Vistabella); and in Creixells, Casal Municipal. Performers included Roger Morello Ros, cello; Oriol Estivill, clarinet; and Dani Ruiz Hurtado, piano.
  • Imitacio del foc for tenor and piano was released on Bridge Records  with tenor Jess Muñoz, tenor, and pianist Oksana Glouchko on an album entitled, Visca L’Amor: Catalan Art Songs of the XX and XXI Centuries. The album is having a very good reception See Gramophone review. The Album is now available worldwide on all major platforms including ITunes, Amazon and Spotify. I am very proud and honored to be in the company of such highly regarded Catalan composers such as Frederick Mompou, Eduard Toldrà, Ricard Lamote de Grignon, Narcis Bonet, and Joan Comellas.  And especially Frederick Mompou, whom I personally met and whose music I adore. Listen to some samples of the music.  Imitació del Foc is based on poetry by Mallorquin poet Bartomeu Rosselló-Pòrcel (1913-1938). It includes four poems: I. Inici de campana (Quadern de sonets); II.Escolto la secreta… (from Imitacio del Foc, ‘Arbre de Flames’); III. Pluja brodada (Imitacio del foc, ‘Fira encesa’); and IV. Ardent himne (Imitacio del foc, ‘Arbre de Flames’).
  • Masks for clarinet, cello & piano (2019), commissioned by the IonSound Project Ensemble, was recorded in August 2020 by the same group.  Masks for clarinet, cello and piano” received its New York City premiere on February 11, 2020, as part of the Random Access Music (RAM) Concert Series.
  • Pianist Becky Billock recorded Mirage for piano in a CD title Mother Earth that included works inspired by nature by Amy Beach, Marion Bauer, Henry Cowell, Edvard Grieg, Karen Tanaka, Bonnie McLarty, Elisenda Fabregas, Patrick Burke, Germaine Tailleferre, Robert Schultz, Katherine Hoover, Gwyneth Walker, and Kaja Bjørntvedt. More program details.  Becky performed Mirage in her Pacific Northwest tour  and also in Iceland and Norway.
  • On October 18, 2020,  violinist Victoria Kaunzner performed and recorded Ancient Walls for solo violin and Wandering spirit for violin & piano in Valencia (Spain). She also performed these works in Berlin on October 11, 2020.
  • On December 28, 2019, Homenatge a Pau Casals for cello solo was performed by Roger Morelló Ross at the 143rd Concert of the the Anniversary of the Birth of Pau Casals at the Museum Pau Casals, El Vendrell (Tarragona).  Morelló will also performed Homenatge a Pau Casals in Cologne (Klangraum-Kunigunde, January 26, 2020), in Vienna (St. Peters Kirche, February 3,4 , 2020), and in Berlin (Nikodemus Kulturkirche, February 23). He also performed Homenatge a Pau Casals for solo cello at the famed Gaudi building Casa Mila (La Pedrera) in Barcelona on March 17, 2019. Roger Morello Ros was a Resident Artist 2018/19 at Casa Mila in Barcelona). He has performed throughout Europe in festivals such as Musethica International Chamber Music Festival Berlin 2018, Aurora Winter Classic Festival 2016 in Sweden and Echo Festival 2016 in Italy, and in concert halls like Philarmonie Berlin, Pau Casals Auditorium and Josep Carreras Auditorium, among others. He is the winner of top competitions and has studied at Cologne University of Music (Germany). This October he will do his debut at Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona).

Aires Catalans (2023) premiere by ‘Orchestra de Cambra Terrassa 48’ on April 23, 2023, Auditori Terrassa

Aires Catalans for string chamber orchestra was commissioned…

Recordings