A Celebration for the Archduke

Vespres d’Arnadí
Mariví Blasco, soprano
Elies Barberà, actor
Daniel Espasa, artistic director
Josep Lluís Guardiola, stage manager 

Emanuele Gioacchino Cesare Rincón, Baron d’ Astorga (1681‑1736): Opera, Dafni (Barcelona, 1709) / Francesc Guerau (1649-1722): Dance suite from Poema harmónico (Madrid, 1694) / Antonio Caldara (1670-1736): Extracts from the opera Il più bel nome (Barcelona 1708) / Joan Baptista Cabanilles (1644-1711): Xàcara - Corrente italiana / George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): «Der Himmel wird strafen», aria from Almira (Hamburg, 1705) / «Tornami a vagheggiar», aria from Alcina (London, 1735) / Charles Desmazures (1670‑1736): Suite no. 4 in B flat major from Pièces de simphonie à quatre parties pour les violons, fluttes et haubois (Marseille, 1702) / André Danican Philidor, “l'aîné” (c.1652-1730): Dance suite from Canciones francesas de todos ayres  (Madrid, 1703) / Jean‑Baptiste Stuck, “Batistin” (1680-1755): Cantate sur la prise de Lérida from Cantates françoises, second book (Paris, 1708) / Anon. c.1700: Suite in D major from an anonymous Catalan manuscript c.1700 (Institut Milà i Fontanals-CSIC) 

In 1707, during the War of Succession, Archduke Charles of Austria had to flee from Valencia back to Barcelona due to the advances of the Bourbon troops. This was the last year fueros (independent charter) would remain in force throughout the Kingdom Aragon.This concert will bring us works by some of the leading composers who wrote music for the House of Austria, and will show how in spite of the hostilities between the royal families, artistic life continued at the courts as a demonstration of normality and stability.

Concert in memory of Ernest Lluch. Torroella de Montgrí Festival Production.