Ataulfo Argenta

From Orchestra Conductors

Argenta studied piano at the Madrid Conservatory and went for further study to Belgium and Germany, where he studied with Carl Schuricht. He held a conservatory teaching post at Kassel but then the war (1939) forced him to return to Spain, where among other duties he played the piano and celesta with the Spanish National Orchestra in Madrid. He made his conducting debut with his country's radio orchestra, then in 1945 became conductor of the National Orchestra. He first appeared in Britain as José Iturbi's conductor (with the LSO) at the Harringay Arena, London, in 1948.

His early death cut off what promised to be a highly successful career. He made a number of recordings, including Granados's opera Goyescas with the National Orchestra and Turina's Danzas fantásticas , with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra.