Halffter (Escriche), Ernesto

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Halffter (Escriche), Ernesto

Halffter (Escriche), Ernesto, esteemed Spanish composer and conductor, brother of Rodolfo Halffter (Escriche) and uncle of Cristóbal Halffter (Jiménez-Encina); b. Madrid, Jan. 16, 1905; d. there, July 5, 1989. He was trained in composition by Manuel de Falla and Adolfo Salazar. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, he went to Lisbon. In 1960 he returned to Madrid. In addition to Falla, his output reflects the influence of such French masters as Ravel and Poulenc. He completed and orchestrated Falla’s scenic cantata Atlántida (Milan, June 18, 1962; later rev. and perf. in concert form, Lucerne, Sept. 9, 1976).

Works

dramatic: Chamber Opera: Entr’acte (1964). Ballet: Sonatina (1928); Dulcinea (1940); Cojo enamorado (1954); Fantasia galaica (1955). ORCH.: Sinfonietta (Oxford, July 23, 1931); Fantaisie portugaise (Paris, March 23, 1941); Rapsodia portuguesa for Piano and Orch. (1962); Guitar Concerto (1968). VOCAL: Canticum in memoriam P. P. Johannem XXIII for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1964); Psalmen for Soloist, Chorus, and Orch. (1967).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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