Enric
Barcelona , 11 March 1942
Composer and conductor. He started as a self-taught musician while visiting Argentina. After returning to Barcelona, he studied with Pedrell, Tolosa and Vidiella, and later in Brussels with Philippe Fiévez (1885-1890). In 1890 he joined the orchestra of Gran Teatre del Liceu. In 1893 he premiered Dansa dels Gnoms and Introducció a l’Atlàntida at the Societat Catalana de Concerts. In 1895 he founded the Catalunya Nova choral society, giving a new impetus to the Clavé movement. He composed the opera La fada (1897) and the incidental music for Rusiñol’s L’alegria que passa (1898). In 1901, together with Gay and Granados, he organized the first Catalan teatre líric season. He offered El Comte Arnau (1905), La Santa Espina (1907), Emporium (1906) and Bruniselda (1906) at Liceu. In 1911 he was appointed Deputy Director of the Municipal Music School, where he influenced composers such as Pahissa and Montsalvatge. He composed some of the most frequently performed sardanas: Empordà, La sardana de les monges and La Santa Espina. He is considered a central figure of Catalan modernisme.