(a Late-Nineties staging, featuring : The Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Theo Alcantara ; with The Bilbao Choral Society, directed by Gorka Sierra)
Jesus Guridi (1886-1961), the Spanish-Basque composer, wrote "Amaya" over the period of a decade ... Not because of consecutive re-writing the work, but because he was, it seems, fully aware of his own immense musical talents, and thus his personal responsibility to the Basque people, to compose an integrated opera, that had great dramatic and musical integrity.
The synopsis of "Amaya" revolves around a crucial moment in the Basque peoples' history, when they sought to achieve religious unity in the 8C, amidst a backdrop of spreading Christianity threatening the old order, with its worship of "Nature-Gods" (sun, moon, etc.). That old order is symbolised by Aitorechea, the sanctuary of the patriarch Aitor, whose daughter Amagoia, the priestess, maintains his traditions in the face of the growing threat of Christianity, represented by Migel & Placida de Goni and their son Teodosio, who has been chosen by the Basques as their leader in battle.
Against this background, and with Arab invaders threatening incursions into Vasconia, the story is told of the rivalry between Teodosio and Asier (Asier being the stepson and ward of Amagoia), the leading figures of the two factions. They are also both fighting for the love of Amaya, heiress of the patriarch Aitor, and niece of Amagoia . Her choice of husband will mark the destiny of the Basque people ...
Disc One : Amaya, opera by Jesus Guridi (1920) : Act One & Act Two.
Disc Two : Amaya : Act Three & Epilogue.
Both discs are in EX condition.
Includes 56-page book, with libretto in English & Spanish.