Harmonium in Spain Marc Fitze International Harmonium Festival Bern

Marc Fitze performs Fiesta de Aldea by Antonio Lopez de Almagro 6/17/16 at the International Harmonium Festival in Bern Switzerland.

Fitze's selection is fully titled: Fiesta de Aldea. Escena campestre from Almagno's (1839-1904) "El harmonium de doble expression" of 1880. Almagro was a composer, publisher, influential personality and founder of orchestras in Spain during the second half of the 19th C. He was also the Spanish representative of the Mustel firm that produced some of the finest art harmoniums ever built.

For several years Marc Fitze has been intensively researching the life and work of Almagro, who was also a virtuoso on the harmonium.

Marc Fitze is not only an internationally renowned harmonium player in his own right, but is the artistic director of the International Harmonium Festival, that he organized and produced in Bern Switzerland. He is the titular organist at the Heiliggeistkirche in Berne, instructor at the Conservatory of Berne, and artistic director of the Baroque Center of Heiliggeistkirche. He performs regularly in concerts in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, England, Holland, Spain, Ukraine, Mexico, the USA and Japan. In addition he specializes in the harmonium and its historical performance practice, and has a private collection of historical Mustel instruments.

[oscarmusicum]

Extraordinario, preciosa interpretación. Gran Maestro!!

[Organgrinder]

Beautiful! So happy to have discovered this! Thanks!

[mortonbelcher]

It is said that the best stop of an organ is "acoustics." The acoustics of this location seem to be excellent... There are some other harmoniums which have been recorded on youtube, but this is the first harmonium I have heard with such excellent acoustics....

[Mikemallga]

Where can I find a copy of this piece by Antonio Lopez de Almagro? Love it. Wonderful playing and great sound from the Mustel in great location for sound. Bravo !!!

[tippah]

I suppose we are at a point where we can take for granted the technology of video making, but without people like you to use it to bring to us to the festival what good is it? What good are old un-restored harmoniums without those people who have the interest in bringing them to life again. I thank you and all those at the festival you have interviewed.

[fazakasadam]

Great piece and performance! :) Can anybody help me with the score of this piece?
Greetings from Transylvania! :)