Description

HUGO BALZO DEL BUONO (MONTEVIDEO, 29 JUNE, 1912 – MONTEVIDEO, 17 JULY, 1982)

Son of Miguel Balzo, musician and Juana del Buono, brother of Tulio Balzo. At age eight he began his musical studies at the Instituto Fálleri de Montevideo, with Agar Fálleri, a student of Sgambatti, in turn a student of Liszt – who had a very good European background, having graduated from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome in 1904 On the death of his father, Agar Fálleri takes over the direction of the Institute. At age twelve he debuted by offering a recital at the Verdi Institute with his teacher, presenting a varied program that included two-piano works. At age 14 he received a piano teacher. He studied with Fálleri until 1936, the year he left for Paris , where he received classes from Robert Casadesus , Isidor Philipp , Mme. Pachamann, Noël Galon , Ricardo Viñes , Alfredo Casella and Maurice Ravel In Europe he released the works of Eduardo Fabini , Uruguayan composer, and other works of Latin American composers. Alberto Ginastera, Argentine composer, commented: “Balzo was the first to interpret my works in Paris; thanks to him they met me.” Ginastera dedicated his work Malambo. When World War II was declared , he returned to Uruguay where he was named soloist of the SODRE Symphony Orchestra (OSSODRE). In Argentina he played in the presence of Manuel de Falla and, in 1940, he performed recitals in different parts of Uruguay. At that time he formed a remembered piano duo with Nybia Mariño . A year later he gave concerts in the United States and opened a new field of study through teaching, which he completed when, in 1945, Agar Fálleri appointed him director of the Conservatory and that educational institution was known as the Falleri-Balzo Conservatory. He was soloist under the direction of renowned international and national directors. He premiered in Uruguay and throughout Latin America, under the direction of Kachaturián, the concert for piano and orchestra of Kachaturián. Later he would tour Latin America announcing the aforementioned concert. Gradually he turned to teaching and trained several pianists in Uruguay: Ruben Chelle , Diana Traverso , Jorge Noli , María Mercedes Luna , José Forcheimer , John Pea , Julieta Nicolini , Susana Frugone , Edison Quintana , María Teresa Chenlo , Manfredo Gerhardt , Carlos Cebro , Humberto Quagliata , Elisa Etchepare , Élida Gencarelli and Julián Bello . He was also a professor ofInstitute of Artigas Professors, of the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, of the National Conservatory, of Secondary Education, Inspector of Secondary Music and Artistic Director of SODRE. He was president of Musical Youth of Uruguay.

TRACKLIST

1. Aires Indios N.1 (Caba)
2. Aires Indios N.2 (Caba)
3. Aires Indios N.3 (Caba)
4. Córdoba (Albeniz)
5. Danza (Jachaturián)
6. Gnossiennes N.1 (Satie)
7. Gnossiennes N.2 (Satie)
8. Gnossiennes N.3 (Satie)
9. Intermezzo (Fabini)
10. Muchachas en el jardín (Mompou)
11. Pequeña danza española (Iturbi)
12. Tonada N.5 (Allende)
13. Triste N.1 (Fabini)
14. Triste N.2 (Fabini)

Recital de piano (Ayuí / Tacuabé t/m8. 1973) LP