Leonardo Balada: New CDs, New Work

The latest opera by Spanish-American composer Leonardo Balada to be released on the Naxos label is his Cristobál Colón (Christopher Columbus) in the 1989 world premiere performance starring Jose Carreras and Montserrat Caballe with the orchestra and chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona. The opera, which the Washington Times described as "a masterpiece...a landmark score in the lyric theater of our time," is to be followed shortly in the Naxos catalogue by its sequel, La Muerte de Colón (Death of Columbus), joining Balada's earlier releases on the distinguished record label, the two chamber operas Hangman, Hangman and The Town of Greed, the tenth Naxos CD featuring the music of Leonardo Balada.

As part of the commemoration of the centennial of Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz's death, Balada was commissioned to compose a work for solo cello and string orchestra. Caprichos n. 5 (Homage to I. Albeniz), based on episodes from Albeniz's famous piano suite Iberia, was premiered by virtuoso cellist Aldo Mata and the Orquesta de Camara Iberica.