Jordi Savall, 80 today
NewsThe polycultural gambist, conductor and propagator of lost Mediterranean civilisations enters a new decade today, his energy undimmed.
Catalan by heritage, he formed the ensemble Hespèrion XX (now XXI) in 1974 and, with his late wife Montserrat Figueras (who died in 2011), produced wave upon wave of recordings of medieval, renaissance, classical and modern music.
Few living artists have a larger discograhpy.
“Few living artists have a larger discography.”
Few living artists have sowed the seeds of a more lively and felicitous musical Renaissance. (The capital R is not a misprint, just a plain statement of fact.)
Few are more worthy of gratitude. Few are better loved.
Anys i anys… per molts anys, mestre Jordi!
I had the honor of singing with him in Styriarte last month. Undimmed is right – and rarely have I encountered a man of such inner clarity and peace. He looked at the ensemble and we felt seen, understood, important, and loved. Indeed, I feel few are as deserving of the title Maestro.
He’s an inspiration and a legend. Many happy returns to him!
A brilliant artist. Happy birthday, maitre.
‘The polycultural gambist…’ should rather be called ‘the polycultural viola player…’ (in that particular case, ‘the woke viola player…’ could also be appropriate).
The viola da gamba is a viola that is played when supported between the legs (the ‘gambe’).
Is this an attempt at a viola joke?
No, the joke is about the legs, not the viola. Like saying that Mr Savall is a leg virtuoso.
🙂
Got it!
Jordi Saval has balanced his focus between known and unknown repertoire. Sublime, revelatory and fun are qualities one can spontaneously associate with his artistry. He is a treasure. Happy Birthday!
I could hear fragments of Bony M’s song “Rasputin” in that last musical example, Uskudara. Obviously that pop group knew of this music and ‘borrowed’ it!!
Many decades more please!
Every note he has ever played is worth listening to, but my favourite is his recording of Marais’s ‘Les voix humaines’. It is a small miracle of sound and has a profound effect on my mood.