The CD containing the recording of the re-release of Usandizaga’s “La Llama” is now on sale

The Basque National Symphony Orchestra presents the CD containing a live recording of the re-release in concert version of José María Usandizaga's opera, "La Llama". This double CD, published by Deutsche Grammophon, brings an end to the Basque National Orchestra's contribution to the Usandizaga Year, commemorating the hundred years since the death of this composer from San Sebastián.

This recording represents the result of an ambitious project, including a great deal of work to edit the score and subsequently re-release the opera in concert version. Conducted by Juan José Ocón, an important number of people and institutions were involved in the endeavour: recovery of the score was carried out by Juan José Ocón himself, with the collaboration of Ana Huarte, and the libretto was revised by the musical critic Manuel Cabrera; Eresbil, the Basque Music Archive also helped with the process. The re-release had a cast including Sabina Puértolas (soprano), Mikeldi Atxalandabaso (tenor), Damián del Castillo (baritone), Miren Urbieta Vega (narrator), Elena Barbé (soprano), Fernando Latorre (bass-baritone), Maite Maruri (mezzosoprano) and Xabier Anduaga (tenor); the choir parts were provided by the Coral Andra Mari.

One indispensable part of the complete endeavour was collaboration of the San Sebastián City Council and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.

Re-release of the opera "La Llama", ran from 16-24 March 2015, in four cycles making up the Basque National Symphony Orchestra's Subscribers' Season (Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria and Pamplona). This CD contains the recording of the concerts on March 20th and 21st at San Sebastian's Kursaal Auditorium The CD comes with a finely composed libretto of 60 pages in Basque and Spanish with texts by Juan José Ocón and Manuel Cabrera, synopses, texts in song, etc. It also contains historical photographs of the re-release.

The double CD is now on sale and can be purchased from branches of El Corte Inglés, Fnac and Elkar, from Parsifal (San Sebastián), and from Amazon; the digital edition is available on iTunes and Google Play; and it can also be listened to in streaming mode on Spotify and Deezer. Price: €21 (approx.).

This latest record production promoted by the Basque Orchestra once again confirms the Orchestra's interest and work to make Basque creation known and guarantee its survival. One clear example of this determination is to be found in the Basque Composers Collection, not to be missed, also including in its second issue brought out in 1998 the symphony work of José María Usandizaga.