Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez
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| Born | 17 September 1949 Granada, Spain
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| Died | 4 August 2024 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Composer, conductor |
| Spouse(s) | Alessandra Ruiz-Zuñiga Macías (2010) |
Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez (born September 17, 1949 – died August 4, 2024) was a famous Spanish conductor and composer. He was known for his amazing ability to conduct music without needing to look at the score. He always made sure to play music exactly how the original composer wanted it.
Contents
Miguel Gómez Martínez: A Life in Music
Early Life and Musical Training
Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez was born into a family of musicians. His father taught in the Band of Granada, and his mother was a pianist. From a very young age, Miguel knew he wanted to be a conductor.
He once said:
"I started to study music at the age of four, by my own will and against my parent's will."
When he was just five years old, he passed an exam at the Victoria Eugenia Music Conservatory in Granada. At age seven, in 1957, he stood on the conductor's podium. He not only led the professors of the Band steadily, but he also corrected mistakes in the music score.
By age thirteen, he earned his piano professor title from the Granada Music Conservatory. At seventeen, he won a special 'Extraordinary Prize' in composition. This award was given at the Music Conservatory of Madrid. In 1964, he moved to Madrid and received a First Class Diploma. He also won the Price of the Conservatory in his final year.
With a special scholarship, Gómez-Martínez continued his studies in Vienna. He learned orchestra and choral conducting from Hans Swarowsky. He finished his training at age 21, earning a prize from the Austrian Ministry of Education.
Leading Orchestras Around the World
Miguel Gómez Martínez first conducted in Sankt Pölten, near Vienna, in 1973. After that, he led orchestras in Lucerne and Berlin. In Berlin, he conducted Beethoven's famous opera, "Fidelio." His first performance in Spain was in 1975. This took place at the International Music and Dance Festival in Granada.
From then on, his career took off. He became the main conductor and artistic director for many international orchestras. He was a permanent conductor at the Vienna State Opera from 1976 to 1982. Later, he became a permanent guest conductor there.
He also led the Spanish Radio Television Symphony Orchestra (RTVE) from 1984 to 1987. He was the Chief Conductor of the Teatro de la Zarzuela from 1985 to 1991. Later, he led the Euskadi Orchestra (1989-1993). He was also the Music Director of the New Finnish National Opera in Helsinki (1993-1996).
From 1992 to 2000, he was the Chief Conductor of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra later named him an Honorary Director. He also led the Orquesta de Valencia (1997-2004) and continued as a guest conductor there. Since 2004, he was the Musical Director of the Easter Festival Orchestra in Bayreuth.
Throughout his career, he conducted many top orchestras. These included groups in Europe, the USA, and the Far East. He also worked with famous soloists and singers. Some of these include Luciano Pavarotti, Montserrat Caballé, and Plácido Domingo. He also collaborated with well-known instrumentalists like Mstislav Rostropovitch.
Creating His Own Music
Miguel Gómez Martínez was not only a conductor but also a composer. He often composed music while traveling between concerts. He even wrote pieces on airplanes!
Some of his notable works include:
- Suite Burlesca (1972)
- Sinfonía del Descubrimiento (Symphony of the Discovery) (1992) – written for the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of America.
- Sinfonía del Agua (Water Symphony) (2007)
- “Atallah” – his only opera.
- “Letters from a lover” – a work for baritone and orchestra, dedicated to his wife, Alessandra.
- Concertos for piano and orchestra, and for violin and orchestra.
- Several pieces for solo piano.
His Unique Conducting Style
Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez was famous for his amazing memory. He could conduct entire musical pieces without a score. He believed in a "humanist method" of conducting.
He once shared his thoughts on conducting:
"A conductor should look at the faces of his musicians."
His main goal as a conductor was to play the music exactly as the composer intended. He felt it was vital to be faithful to the original score. He believed nothing should be added or removed.
He explained his approach:
"In the scores is written everything what we have to know, without adding or removing anything."
Passing Away
Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez passed away on August 4, 2024. He was 74 years old.
Awards and Recognition
Miguel Gómez Martínez received many awards during his career. In 1984, he received the Gold Medal of the City of Granada. This was for his "extraordinary artistic merits." In 1995, his hometown of Granada named him 'Citizen of Granada of the 20th Century.'
King Juan Carlos I honored him with the Encomienda de Número of the Order of Civil Merit. The Ministry of Culture of Bavaria gave him a special prize, “The Lion of Bavaria.” This was for his work with the Young Orchestra of the Easter Festival in Bayreuth. He was also a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Granada. He was an honorary member of many music groups across Spain and Europe. He also received gold or silver medals from various European cities.
See also
In Spanish: Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez para niños
