Biography
Biarritz-based Oldarra has safeguarded the musical heritage of Spain’s Basque region. The all-amateur ensemble of forty male voices performs songs drawn from the seven provinces, delivering them in the original dialects and interweaving liturgical chants with melodies once carried by sailors and shepherds alike. According to www.warner-classics.com, the choir “has not only achieved its full expressive potential but made a name for itself by virtue of the demands and originality of its work. The beauty of the colors and timbres of the singers’ voices give its performances a richness and depth that are altogether exceptional.” Telerama echoed this assessment, noting “pure pleasure from this choir, powerful and deep.”
Originally founded as a mixed choir, the group—whose name signifies “fervor” or “impetus”—has performed exclusively with male singers since 1963. Since 1972 Inaki Urtizaberera has served as artistic director, bringing a scholarly command of traditional Spanish and Slavic repertoires. After completing studies in voice and choral conducting at Pamplona Conservatory in Navarra, he has instructed traditional music at Bayonne Conservatoire, with particular emphasis on the txistu, or Basque flute. Beyond his leadership of Oldarra, Urtizaberera has directed the Donosti Ereski Choir, which earned first prize at an International Choral Competition, and the Orchestre Regional De Bayonne-Cote Basque.
The 1998 release La Chant Basque presented a wide-ranging selection of traditional melodies. In an interview following the album’s appearance, Urtizaberera remarked, “The songs that make up this present recording are in the air that I have breathed since my childhood, in the wind that blows over the mountains, and in the rivers that flow down to the ocean.” ~ Craig Harris
Originally founded as a mixed choir, the group—whose name signifies “fervor” or “impetus”—has performed exclusively with male singers since 1963. Since 1972 Inaki Urtizaberera has served as artistic director, bringing a scholarly command of traditional Spanish and Slavic repertoires. After completing studies in voice and choral conducting at Pamplona Conservatory in Navarra, he has instructed traditional music at Bayonne Conservatoire, with particular emphasis on the txistu, or Basque flute. Beyond his leadership of Oldarra, Urtizaberera has directed the Donosti Ereski Choir, which earned first prize at an International Choral Competition, and the Orchestre Regional De Bayonne-Cote Basque.
The 1998 release La Chant Basque presented a wide-ranging selection of traditional melodies. In an interview following the album’s appearance, Urtizaberera remarked, “The songs that make up this present recording are in the air that I have breathed since my childhood, in the wind that blows over the mountains, and in the rivers that flow down to the ocean.” ~ Craig Harris
Albums
