Alberto Ginastera

The performance of the suite from his ballet "Panambí" in 1937 established Ginastera as a leading Argentine composer. He became a leader of the national movement in his country in 1943 with his second ballet, "Estancia." His career achieved international recognition, however, with the performance in 1958 of his second quartet by the Juilliard Quartet. His reputation was further enhanced by American performances of two other works, the 1960 "Cantata para América mágica" and his first piano concerto (1961). During the remainder of that decade Ginastera turned to opera. His "Bomarzo" was an extraordinary success at is premiere in Washington, but was banned by the mayor of Buenos Aires because of its overt sexuality. Sexual and violent themes are also present in his third opera, "Beatrix Cenci." Ginastera is also important as a music educator, and especially in his capacity as director of the Latin American Center for Advanced Musical Studies at the Torcuato di Tella Institute he was able to exert a considerable influence over a number of younger Latin American composers.

Maestro Ginastera’s Compositions