Considered one of the most important Catalan composers of the 20th century, Robert Gerhard and Ottenwaelder (Valls, 1896 – Cambridge, 1970) is the focus of Seed’s new recording project (volume 13 of the Premium Collection) . The album is produced on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of the musician and composer that takes place in 2020 and on the 125th anniversary of his birth, in 2021.

The proposal has been underway for months under the official commemoration decreed by the Generalitat de Catalunya as Gerhard Year. The project focuses on recording the vocal, folk roots of the popular composer from Valls and to do so, Seed has enlisted a spectacular triad: sopranos Núria Rial and Maria Hinojosa and mezzo-soprano Anna Alàs i Jové.

The production will include the recording of the following works: ROBERT GERHARD, obra vocal d’arrel popular (SEED013, 2020)

Catalan folk songs: this cycle consists of fourteen songs for soprano or mezzo-soprano and piano. Dedicated to Concepción Badia d’Agustí, it was composed between 1928 and 1929. Premiere of eight songs in 1929 at the Palau de la Música Catalana.

ANNA ALÀS I JOVÉ & ANNA CREXELLS, piano.
Cançó del lladre · La cinta daurada · L’escolta · La tornada del pelegrí · La cita · El carboneret · La comtessa de Floris · Cançó de batre

NÚRIA RIAL with OBC, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Catalonia. Directed by FRANCESC PRAT. Orchestrated in 1931. Premiered in Vienna, at the 1932 ISCM festival under the direction of Anton Webern.
La calàndria · La mort i la donzella · El petit vailet · El Cotiló · Enemic de les dones · Els ballaires dins un sac

NÚRIA RIAL will also record the orchestral version of the Cancionero de Pedrell from 1941, again under the direction of FRANCESC PRAT.

Six French popular songs – MARIA HINOJOSA, soprano with FRANCISCO POYATO, piano.
Voici le mois de Mai · Les cloches de Guérande · Un rossignol vint sur ma main · La plus jeunette · La valse de Lauterbach · Me suis mise en danse

7 Haiku for soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and piano (1922), with MARIA HINOJOSA and SEED ENSEMBLE. Directed by FRANCESC PRAT.

The album features music production by Santi Barguñó and will be recorded at the end of 2020 at Auditori Eduard Toldrà in Vilanova i la Geltrú, L’Auditori de Barcelona and Espai Ter in Torroella de Montgrí. Julian White. The album is scheduled for release in the spring of 2021.