Marc Altarez

Marc Altarez
Who's Who of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Full Name	Marc Carlos Altarez
Birth Date	20.IV.1663 AN
Death Date	21.IV.1756 AN
Residence	Punta Santiago, Alduria

Marc Altarez, nicknamed 'El Virtuoso', is a Nouvelle Alexandrian composer and virtuous pianist. He is not only remembered for his arrangements and transcriptions of classical musical pieces, but more noticeably for his virtuous mastery of piano music. His most important composition was written in honour of the Proclamation of Punta Santiago, and has been played as a standard accompaniment theme for the annual National Unity Day since 1739 AN.

Altarez showed promise as a natural pianist from a young age, mastering it at 10. He was educated at the University of Punta Santiago, where he developed a liking for musical composition and wrote his first composition at age 19. His first exposure to the national public was at the Music Art Hall in Cárdenas in 1688 AN. His success was near-instantaneous: he held a national tour throughout Nouvelle Alexandrie for over 6 months, with a total of 25 concerts, the highest number of any classical soloist at the time.

A Cárdenas Metro stop was renamed after him in 1691 AN.

Altarez composed over 20 pieces for piano, along with 4 operas, 5 concertos, and 3 symphonies. He was also the lead conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra between 1704 AN and 1728 AN. Altarez conducted and played for over 60 years, before finally retiring at age 80. He spent his final years composing his memoirs, as well as writing a standard textbook on music theory. He died at age 93, after collapsing from a heart attack.

Repertoire

Piano Pieces

Sonatas

1. Luna Plateada, Op.1 (1681 AN)
2. La Viejo Puerto, Op. 2 (1682 AN)
3. Sonata del Fénix, Op. 7 (1687 AN)
4. Los Vientos Susurrantes, Op. 11 (1690 AN)
5. Reloj Roto, Op. 14 (1693 AN)
6. Espejo Dorado, Op. 16 (1698 AN)
7. La Estrella Velada, Op. 17 (1700 AN)
8. Rey Olvidado, Op. 23 (1706 AN)
9. La Torre de Marfil, Op. 26 (1712 AN)
10. La Marea Carmín, Op. 29 (1714 AN)
11. La Última Carta, Op. 34 ((1717 AN))
12. Jardín Helado, Op. 37 (1722 AN)
13. La Corona Hueca, Op. 39 (1723 AN)
14. Cristal Roto, Op. 44 (1728 AN)
15. Amanecer Eterno, Op. 46 ((1730 AN))

Suites

1. Los Canales Iluminados por La Luna, Op. 6 (1686 AN)
2. Carnaval Nuevo Alexandria, Op. 8 (1688 AN)
3. Las Visiones Nocturnas, Op. 21 (1705 AN)
4. Bailes Populares de Alexandria, Op. 24 ((1711 AN)
5. Las Escenas del Puerto, Op. 27 (1713 AN)
6. Mitos y Leyendas, Op. 33 (1716 AN)
7. Los Reflejos, Op. 36 (1718 AN)
8. El Atardecer, Op. 43 (1727 AN)
9. La Promesa, Op. 45 (1729 AN)
10. La Despedida, Op. 51 (1740 AN)

Other Piano Compositions

1. Nocturne del Farol Solitario, Op. 3 (1684 AN)
2. Three Preludes del La Tormenta, Op. 5 (1686 AN)
3. Four Impromptus del Desierto, Op. 10 (1689 AN)
4. Five Bagatelles del Plaza del Mercao, Op. 13 (1692 AN)
5. 24 Études del Alma Alexandrien, Op. 20 (1704 AN)
6. Six Intermezzos de la Hora Dorada, Op. 31 (1712 AN)
7. Three Elegies del Amor Perdido, Op. 42 (1726 AN)

Operas

1. La Caída de la Ciudad Antigua, Op. 19 (1702 AN)
2. El Secreto de Elise, Op. 28 (1710 AN)
3. El Mercader de los Canales, Op. 36 (1717 AN)
4. La Última Luna, Op. 47 (1731 AN)

Concertos

1. Las Arenas Doradas, Op. 12 (1691 AN) - Piano and Orchestra
2. La Voces de la Luz, Op. 22 (1705 AN) - Piano and Orchestra
3. Sol Naciente, Op. 30 (1715 AN) - Piano and Orchestra
4. Las Cuerdas de Plata (1719 AN) - Violin and Orchestra
5. Las Aguas Profundas, Op. 48 (1733 AN) - Cello and Orchestra

Symphonies

1. Los Dos Ríos, Op. 15 (1694 AN)
2. Las Estrellas Fugaces, Op. 49 (1734 AN)
3. La Nacíon Unida, Op. 50 (1739 AN)