Ataúlfo Exuperio Martín de Argenta Maza (November 19, 1913 – January 20, 1958), was a Spanish

Spanish people

The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....

 conductor and pianist.

Biography

Argenta was born in Castro Urdiales

Castro Urdiales

Castro Urdiales is a seaport of northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, situated on the bay of Biscay.Castro Urdiales is a modern town, although its castle and the Gothic-style parish church of Santa María de la Asunción, date from the Middle Ages. Its chief industries are...

, Cantabria

Cantabria

Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...

, one of the two children, and the only son, of the local station master and a worker with the railways, Juan Martín de Argenta, and Laura Maza. Argenta showed a talent for singing as a youth, and sang in the church of Santa María. He later studied violin and piano. His teachers included Vicente Aznar and Blanco Justo. He went to school at Doctrina Cristiana, playing locally in the cinema and at Círculo Católico concerts. He suffered from tuberculosis as a youth.

In 1927, Argenta's family moved to Madrid, where his father worked in the head-office of the State Railways, and where Argenta began studies at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música (Madrid Conservatory

Madrid Conservatory

-History:The Royal Conservatory of Music was founded on July 15, 1830, by royal decree, and was originally located in Mostenses Square, Madrid. In 1852 it was moved to the Royal Opera, where it remained until the building was condemned by royal order and classes ordered to halt in 1925. For the...

). His teachers included Fernández Alberdi and Conrado de Campo. He won a Premio Extraordinario for piano in 1930. His fellow pupils included Juana Pallares Guisasola, his future wife, who herself won a Premio Extraordinario in her graduation year. Argenta also won the Kristina Nilsson Prize early in 1931.

After Juan Martín de Argenta's sudden death, the family moved to Liege, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, to live with relatives. Argenta made his way back to Madrid to maintain his relationship with Juana. He worked various jobs, including time at the office of the State Railways, playing the piano in dance-halls and bars, and worked as an accompanist and music tutor. He spent his summers in or near Los Molinos, near Madrid, where the Pallares family spent their summers. He continued studies with de Campo and Alberdi. His first public appearance as a conductor was 2 March 1934 with the orchestra of the Professional Association of Conservatory Students.

At the end of 1935, Argenta was named resident conductor at Madrid's Teatro Calderón for the 1936 opera season. After the start of the Spanish Civil War

Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...

, Argenta volunteered with the Nationalist forces. As the only son of a widow, he was exempt from combat service. He served in a communications battalion and trained in radio-telegraphy. He was involved in the Segovian Falange. During the Civil War, he served behind the northern front almost until the fall of Gijon, the last Republican stronghold in the north. He managed to communicate with his family in Belgium and Juana in Madrid. Argenta and Juana were able to reunite in Nationalist territory, and they married in Segovia on 13 October 1937.

At the fall of Gijón, Argenta’s unit was withdrawn from the front. He fell ill and convalesced in Segovia, where he performed in concerts. He eventually reported late back to his unit, at the wrong location, so that he was accused of desertion. Pilar Primo de Rivera, sister of the late founder of the Falange, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, intervened and the charges were dropped. Argenta was also later accused of spying, but the charges were not proved and he was eventually released. In November 1938, his first child was born, a girl. Argenta was demobilised in July 1939 in Albacete.

Argenta returned to Madrid to try to make a living as a musician. Juana had given birth to their second child, a son, born a month premature and who survived only a few hours, which he learned about whilst at a concert. By the beginning of 1940, Argenta had found work, in review with Jesus Garcia Leoz at Madrid's Teatro Guerrero. He still had ambitions as a concert pianist, and arranged a number of concerts with the support of Cayetano Luca de Tena at the Teatro Espanyol. A visiting German pianist, Winfried Wolf, heard one such concert, and arranged with the German government for Argenta to receive a three-month stipend to study with Wolf in Germany. In July 1941, Argenta attended the Bad Elster music festival, and made the acquaintance of musicians including Carl Schuricht

Carl Schuricht

Carl Adolph Schuricht was a German conductor.Schuricht was born in Danzig , German Empire; his father's family had been respected organ-builders. His mother, Amanda Wusinowska, a widow soon after her marriage , brought up her son alone...

 and Franz von Hoesslin. Juana had her third child, a daughter, in Madrid. After the festival, Argenta persuaded Schuricht to intercede with the German government to extend his stipend.

Later in 1941, Argenta moved with Wolf from Potsdam to the university at Kassel. He was appointed Professor of Piano at Kassel and developed his conducting technique there. He conducted the Berlin Radio Orchestra in May 1942. Juana and their two daughters arrived in Kassel to a house in Wolfshanger. Argenta suffered a recurrence of tuberculosis-related symptoms, and halted his work for three months. Later in 1942, Argenta resumed his teaching and performing. In 1943, the family fled Wolfshanger for Spangenberg in the wake of Allied bombing of the area. During this time, their home was destroyed in a bombing raid.

Argenta returned to Spain and began a series of concerts to raise funds and re-establish musical and political contacts in Spain, particularly at the Teatro Espanyol. The rest of his family, with Juana pregnant with their fourth child, arrived in Spain in December 1943. In Madrid, Argenta had difficulties in resuming a career as a concert pianist. In March 1944, his third surviving child, another daughter, was born. His career as a conductor began to develop, initially with his work in forming the Madrid Chamber Orchestra (MCO), sponsored by the banker, Luis Urquijo, the Marques of Bolarque. The MCO began to give concerts in early 1945, with Argenta performing also as a pianist, at the Teatro Espanyol. In March 1945, he auditioned to conduct the orchestra of the National Radio, and in June received a six-month contract to conduct weekly concerts with the radio orchestra. In July, his fourth child, a son, was born. In October 1945 he was appointed the resident pianist with the SNO, conducting it for the first time in November. He appeared later that year as pianist and conductor with the Madrid Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

Argenta began to conduct the SNO more often. In January 1946, his radio contract was not renewed. In 1946, the SNO had begun a search for a replacement for Bartolomé Pérez Casas, the aging conductor of the SNO. The candidates included Franz von Hoesslin, and Argenta renewed his acquaintance with von Hoesslin, who later died in a plane crash. Argenta later became the SNO’s assistant conductor, and in November 1946, the SNO's second conductor. On 2 January 1947, he was named joint director of the SNO, and conducted 80 concerts with the orchestra in one year. He made his London conducting debut in June 1948 with the London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

 as part of the London Music Festival at the Harringay Arena

Harringay Arena

Harringay Arena was a sporting and events venue on Green Lanes in Harringay, North London, England. Built in 1936, it lasted as a venue until 1958.-Construction:...

.

In November 1948, Argenta was named principal conductor of the SNO, with Pérez-Casas remaining as the SNO's titular head until his departure in 1949. Argenta conducted the first commercial recording of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez

Concierto de Aranjuez

The Concierto de Aranjuez is a composition for classical guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is probably Rodrigo's best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century. ...

, with Regino Sainz de la Maza as the soloist. He also directed the premiere of Rodrigo’s Concierto Galante, with Gaspar Cassado, and the first concert performance of the Concierto de Aranjuez outside Spain, with Narciso Yepes

Narciso Yepes

Narciso Yepes was a Spanish guitarist.-Biography:Yepes was born into a family of humble origin in Lorca, Region of Murcia. His father gave him his first guitar when he was four years old. He took his first lessons from Jesus Guevara, in Lorca...

.

In 1950, Argenta and Juana had their fifth and last surviving child, another girl. They settled in Los Molinos. In November 1950, Argenta conducted the Paris Conservatory Orchestra for the first time, and continued to direct them regularly until his death. Also in 1950, Argenta began to conduct a series of recordings of zarzuela

Zarzuela

Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...

s for the Alhambra record label. He eventually made over 50 zarazuela recordings, and recordings of zarazuela selections. He conducted the soundtrack for the film La Cancion de Malibran, which premiered in October 1951.

In 1952, Argenta acquired a new agent, Valmalete (based in Paris). His international engagements began to increase. He helped in the organisation of the first Granada Festival in June 1952, and of the Santander Festival

Festival Internacional de Santander

The Festival Internacional de Santander is one of Spain's oldest music festivals. Each year, during the month of August it presents two to three operas as well as performances from visiting ballet and theatre companies, solo recitals, and choral, symphonic, and chamber music concerts...

 in August 1952. His work with the MCO essentially ceased after the autumn of 1952.

On 15 February 1954, an article written by Argenta was published in the Madrid arts magazine Ateneo. It strongly criticised the Spanish musical scene under Franco, including criticism of Joaquin Rodrigo. Rodrigo himself responded in print. The resulting controversy forced Argenta to apologise for the article, and caused a rupture in Argenta's relationship with Rodrigo. He made his first appearance with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is a Swiss symphony orchestra, based in Geneva at the Victoria Hall...

 in 1954, which led to several later commercial recordings for Decca.

Argenta continued to suffer health problems related to his ongoing tuberculosis symptoms, and underwent 5 months of treatment between 1955 and 1956. He nonetheless continued to make recordings, such as Ernesto Hallfter's Sinfonietta, De Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain

Nights in the Gardens of Spain

Nights in the Gardens of Spain is a piece of music by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla...

with Gonzalo Soriano

Gonzalo Soriano

Gonzalo Soriano was one of Spain's most distinguished classical pianists of the twentieth century.Born in Alicante, Soriano began studying music at an early age, but soon began to concentrate on piano. Graduating from the Royal Conservatory in Madrid in 1929, he went on to study piano and...

, work with the OSR, and later in London, the stereo orchestral LP Espana, as well as the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Alfredo Campoli

Alfredo Campoli

Alfredo Campoli was an Italian-born British violinist, often known simply as Campoli. He was noted for the beauty of the tone he produced from the violin.-Biography:...

 and Liszt concertos with Julius Katchen

Julius Katchen

Julius Katchen was an American concert pianist, possibly best known for his recordings of Johannes Brahms's solo piano compositions.-Early career:...

. His last live concerts were of Handel's Messiah on the 17 and 19 January 1958.

Argenta died at his house in Los Molinos on the evening of January 20, 1958, with the cause of death attributed as carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...

 inhalation. Juana returned for the funeral from Switzerland, where she was receiving medical treatment. Argenta was interred in Madrid's Almudena cemetery. He was given the posthumous award of the Grand Cross of Alfonso the Wise. A statue of him by the sculptor Rafael Huerta was erected in the garden of Castro Urdiales in 1961. The auditorium of the concert hall in Santander is named after him.

In January 2008, the 50th anniversary of Argenta's death was commemorated in Spain with concerts, exhibitions and conferences, as well as the publication of two biographies.

Recordings

The bulk of Argenta's recorded legacy consists of recordings of over 50 zarzuelas with Alhambra (Spanish Columbia). He also was to record perhaps as many as 80 classical pieces, many for Decca, such as Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique

Symphonie Fantastique

Symphonie Fantastique: Épisode de la vie d'un Artiste...en cinq parties , Op. 14, is a program symphony written by the French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830. It is one of the most important and representative pieces of the early Romantic period, and is still very popular with concert audiences...

with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra. For example, his famous stereophonic demonstration record "España!", with the London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

, made at Kingsway Hall

Kingsway Hall

The Kingsway Hall, Holborn, London, built in 1912, was the home of the West London Mission of the Methodist Church, and eventually became one of the most important recording venues for classical music and film music...

 in January 1957, featured Spanish-themed music by mostly non-Spanish composers. Other recordings include Falla

Falla

Falla is a locality situated in Finspång Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 463 inhabitants in 2005....

’s El Amor Brujo

El amor brujo

El amor brujo is a piece of music originally composed by Manuel de Falla for a chamber group, then re-scored as a symphonic suite, and eventually as a ballet...

with Ana-Maria Iriarte, Rodrigo

Joaquín Rodrigo

Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez , commonly known as Joaquín Rodrigo, was a composer of classical music and a virtuoso pianist. Despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success...

’s Concierto de Aranjuez

Concierto de Aranjuez

The Concierto de Aranjuez is a composition for classical guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is probably Rodrigo's best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century. ...

with Narcisco Yepes, Falla’s Noches en los Jardines de Espana with Gonzalo Soriano, and more obscurely his recordings of Escudero and Ohana.

External links

• Biography and Timeline on www.ataulfoargenta.com, the official web site of Ataúlfo Argenta (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2008.
• Entry for Ataulfo Argenta on Allmusic. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
• Portrait of Ataúlfo Argenta painted by the Cantabrian artist Gerardo de Alvear (1887–1964). Retrieved 15 February 2008.
• Juan González-Castelao, Biography of Ataúlfo Argenta in the Orquesta Nacional de España programme for «Homenaje a Ataúlfo Argenta», January 25, 26, 27, 2008, pp. 5-12