A DISPETTO VEDRANNO

2027 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of José Lidón. Born in Béjar (Salamanca), Lidón attained the most important post to which a composer could aspire in the Spain of his day, that of Maestro de la Real Capilla de Madrid. To this post were added his standing as an organist of the first rank and his excellent reputation as a teacher at the Real Colegio de niños cantores. Lidón also aspired to distinguish himself in dramatic music. The present programme restores in modern times one of his more than thirty Holy Week lamentations and two arias for treble from his zarzuela El barón, which until recently was believed lost. With a surprising balance between sacred and dramatic music, Lidón's Il trionfo is a composition for four solo voices and orchestra based on an Italian translation of Psalm XVII published in 1768 by Saverio Mattei. Lidón turned the text into a cantata for four characters: King David and his three musicians Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. It describes divine help in achieving victory over his enemies and the recognition of David's authority. This theme allows it to be considered an allegory of the return of Fernando VII in 1814 and reinforces its probable connection with the Real Cámara.

Eugenia Boix, soprano

Víctor Martínez Soto, baroque violin

Lorea Aranzasti, baroque violin

Antonio José Clares, baroque viola

Guillermo Turina, baroque cello

Jorge Muñoz, baroque double bass

Silvia Márquez Chulilla, fortepiano and direction

This activity is part of the project led by the ICCMU, Espacios, géneros y públicos de la música en Madrid (MadMusic CM, PHS-2024/PH-HUM-194), under the 2024 call for R&D project grants in Human and Social Processes, funded by the Comunidad de Madrid.