The sixth volume of the Basque Music Collection is dedicated to the music of Pablo Sorozábal. Born in San Sebastián in 1897, Sorozábal demonstrated early talent for music, studied violin with Alfredo Larrocha, and then went to Madrid and Leipzig to study composition and conducting. His first choral compositions date from 1922, and were followed by lieder chamber music, symphonic music, etc. He earned fame and fortune, however, as a composer of operettas and film music; later in his career he returned to instrumental and symphonic music. The works selected for this recording are particularly representative of his symphonic and choral music.

Sorozábal's compositional technique and sense of formal structure reflect his training in Germany, but his music never fails to breath the inspiration of his native Basque country. He often employs traditional Basque melodies, genres such as the zortziko (a Basque folk dance in 5/4 time), instrumental colors inspired by folk instruments (tabor), etc. Like many other musicians and artists, Sorozábal was inspired to composed a work dealing with the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish civil war; Gernika for choir and orchestra with Basque lyrics is one of his most moving and well-known compositions.

The Euskadi Symphony Orchestra (Basque National Orchestra), which celebrated its 20th anniversary in April of this year, has established itself as one of Spain's leading symphonic ensembles; it is led here by music director Cristian Mandeal. The ensemble is joined by the Sociedad Coral de Bilbao (Bilbao Choral Society)and Basque mezzo-soprano Maite Arruabarrena.