Argenta (Maza), Atáulfo
Argenta (Maza), Atáulfo
Argenta (Maza), Atáulfo, esteemed Spanish conductor; b. Castro Urdiales, Nov. 19, 1913; d. (of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning), Los Molinos, near Madrid, Jan. 21, 1958. He pursued training in piano at the Madrid Cons., where he took 1st prize at the age of 17. After further studies in Belgium, he went to Germany in 1941 and continued his training at the Kassel Cons. He also found a conducting mentor in Carl Schuricht. In 1943 he returned to Spain and centered his career in Madrid. In 1945 he became a member of the Orquesta Nacional de España, and soon thereafter made his first appearance with it as a conductor. In 1946 he founded the Madrid Chamber Orch. He became chief conductor of the Orquesta Nacional de España in 1947. As a guest conductor, he appeared in Vienna, Glasgow, and London but became especially associated with the Paris Cons. Orch. and l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande of Geneva. In addition to his idiomatic interpretation of Spanish works, he displayed a remarkable command of a broad repertoire ranging from Vivaldi to Stravinsky.
Bibliography
A. Fernandez–Cid, A. A. (Madrid, 1958).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire