Jordi Masó was born in Granollers (Barcelona, Spain). He studied at Granollers Conservatory, the Barcelona School of Music with the pianist Albert Attenelle, and at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Christopher Elton and Nelly Akopian, graduating in 1992 with a DipRAM. He has performed extensively in most European countries, in piano recitals, chamber music concerts, and is regularly invited to play with the best Spanish orchestras. Masó’s wide repertoire covers all periods and styles, with a special emphasis on music of the 20th century—he has given many première performances of piano works written for him by the foremost Spanish composers. Jordi Masó has made over 50 recordings, many critically acclaimed. His Naxos discography is extensive and includes recordings of works by Roberto Gerhard, Frederic Mompou, Padre José Antonio Donostia, Xavier Montsalvatge, Joaquim Homs, Josep Soler, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Benet Casablancas, Déodat de Séverac, as well as the series of complete works by Joaquín Turina. He is piano professor at the Granollers Conservatory and at the ESMUC (Catalonia College of Music), and since 1996 has been a member of the contemporary music group Barcelona 216. In 2008 he was awarded the ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music).

Catalan Contentment – Jeremy Siepmann interviews pianist Jordi Masó

A native of Seville, Joaquín Turina won local success before travelling to Madrid, where he met Manuel de Falla and was further influenced by the prevailing currents of musical nationalism. Study in Paris at the Schola Cantorum was followed, in 1914, by a return to Madrid, where he made his subsequent career, in spite of the difficulties he and many others of his background encountered during the days of the Republic.

Orchestral Music
Turina won success in 1913 with his symphonic poem La procesión del Rocío, a work that remains in popular repertory along with the later Danzas fantásticas and the Rapsodia sinfónica for piano and orchestra.

Chamber Music
Turina’s chamber music includes La oración del torero (‘The Toreador’s Prayer’) for string quartet or string orchestra, and a number of works that declare their national allegiance and inspiration in their titles. Recuerdos de la antigua España (‘Memories of Ancient Spain’) for lute quartet was written in 1929 and the 1911 String Quartet ‘de la guitarra’ was so called because its theme contains the notes of the guitar’s open strings.

Piano Music
A similar element is present in piano compositions by Turina. These form a significant body of work, from the early suite Sevilla, representing a recurrent element of his inspiration, to the 1943 Por las calles de Sevilla (‘Through the Streets of Seville’).

Vocal Music
Songs by Turina include the interesting Poema en forma de canciones (‘Poem in the Form of Songs’), a cycle of five songs with words by Campoamor.

Guitar Music
Turina wrote music for guitar that is an important part of the repertoire of this essentially Spanish instrument. These works include Sevillana, Fandanguillo, Ráfaga, Sonata and Homenaje a Tárrega.