Description
The economic and cultural progress of the Spanish Basque Country in the early 20th Century fostered a flourishing of all sorts of philarmonic activities. Notably, initiatives related to the so-called ‘Basque renaissance’ and its ensuing musical Nationalism (such as the compilation of folk songbooks or the development of vernacular operas) are well-documented, as well as other efforts to promote academic music.
However, one overlooked aspect is the proliferation of high society amateur performances for philantropic purposes, particularly in the cities of San Sebastian and Bilbao during the 1920s. In that elitist scene, two significant influences stand out: the early impact of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and the incipient airs of American jazz; sometimes blended with more folkloric or tradional elements. This paper will analyse the practices, contexts and repertoires of several of these events, highlighting their national and transnational connections. Thus, the conspicuous modernity and cosmopolitanism of this artistic melting pot offers a fresh image of the cultural reality of the Basque Country in the midst of the ‘Jazz Age’, far beyond traditional folkloric stereotypes. Moreover, it challenges us to reconsider the importance of transnational cultural dynamics during the Interwar period in such a peripheral region.
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