ENRIQUE GRANADOS

ENRIQUE GRANADOS

Enrique Granados was born in Lerida, Spain on July 27, 1867. He took his formal musical education at the Barcelona Conservatory, where he won First Prize in piano in 1883. He continued his studies from 1884 to 1887, learning composition. In 1887, Granados traveled to Paris to further his education, then returned to Barcelona for his first recital in 1890. This launched his performance career. He made a living by playing private concerts and entertaining in restaurants. He wrote several operas, but none of them gained him the fame that he would have liked. His most effective works were contained in a series of piano pieces called "Goyescas", inspired by the paintings and etchings of Goya. Also of note were his "Danzas espanolas". The music of "Goyescas" was later used by Granados in an opera of the same name. On March 24, 1916, while returning to Europe after the New York Metropolitan Opera premiere of "Goyescas", Granados' ship was sunk by a German submarine in the English Channel. He lost his life in the attack.