Mirentxu

Mirentxu (Jesús Guridi) is the third opera we have recorded as part of the Euskal Opera – Basque Opera project, after Maitena (Charles Colin) and Lide ta Ixidor (Santos Inchausti). Mirentxu (Idilio lírico vasco) is undoubtedly a work of great importance and a good example of the talent of the maestro from Vitoria, so closely linked to the Bilbao Choral Society, the institution that commissioned its composition and which he himself conducted at its premiere on 31 May 1910.
Surprisingly, this is the first complete recording of Mirentxu, filling a gap in the history of Basque music. Unlike the first two operas that make up the Euskal Opera – Basque Opera project (Maitena and Lide ta Ixidor), the score of Mirentxu had a critical edition made by Ramon Lazkano for the ICCMU. Hopefully this recording will be an incentive to see this beautiful lyric work performed more often. These three operas, premiered within a very short time of each other, are a reflection of a very creative environment and of a community that lived the process of creation and the premiere of these works with great intensity and closeness. A century later, their preparation and recording by the same entity, the Bilbao Choral Society, once again highlights and updates that collective work.
The BOS (Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa), happy travelling companion in so many projects, has been the perfect symphonic ensemble to bring to life a music full of colours and details, together with a cast of soloists and a conductor of the highest level. To all of them, our greatest thanks. The public institutions that have made the project possible are the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Basque Government, INAEM and Petronor as corporate sponsor, whom we thank for their trust and support, as well as Eresbil (Basque Music Archive). The past becomes present and is projected into the future. The music of this young Guridi is now available to music lovers, who can enjoy it and, for sure, be moved by it.