Josep Bassal, cello & Maria Figa Vaello, piano

ENRIQUE GRANADOS AND GASPAR CASSADÓ: MUSIC AND TEMPERAMENT

The centenary of the death of pianist and composer Enrique Granados (1867-1916) also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the death of another great Spanish musician: cellist and composer Gaspar Cassadó (1897-1966). These incomparable performers created masterpieces for their instruments that are part of the most popular repertoire in the world. Cassadó met Granados in Barcelona at the beginning of the 20th century, early in his musical career. Later, at the height of his popularity, Granados accepted an invitation to play with Cassadó, who was still very young. For Cassadó, Granados epitomized artistic genius, and his influence would greatly impact the musicianship of this young cellist. The resulting score borne of this friendship – Intermezzo for cello and piano from the opera Goyescas – was transcribed by Cassadó from a piece by Granados. This collaboration demonstrates how their music and temperament establishes them as two of the most important artists of our time. 

Artist Bios:

Josep Bassal, cello

Born in Barcelona, he was first recognized in 1980 when he won First Prize at the Concurso Permanente de Juventudes Musicales de España.

Bassal’s activity as a soloist and as a member of chamber ensembles has taken him to more than 25 countries. In recent years he has taken particular interest in the cello music of the Iberian Peninsula, founding the ensemble Arpegio Armónico for the performance of this repertoire. Bassal is a founding member of the Luigi Boccherini Association in Madrid, and in 2004 premiered a recently rediscovered Boccherini sonata.

His interpretations have been recorded for Naxos, as well as and television and radio broadcasts.

Maria Figa Vaello, piano

Born in Girona, Spain, Vaello has studied with Emilio García and Luiz de Moura Castro. She received her diploma from the Conservatori Superior de Música, Liceu in Barcelona and studied privately with M. Jesús Crespo and Edson Elias.

She was awarded a scholarship from the Generalitat de Catalunya to study at the University of Hartford, Connecticut, where she obtained masters degrees in piano and in piano pedagogy.

Vaello has been a finalist and award recipient at national and international piano competitions, and has appeared in concert as a soloist and in chamber groups all over the world.

She is now a piano teacher and accompanist at the Conservatori de Girona and the Conservatori Superior de Música, Liceu in Barcelona.