José Antonio Santesteban (San Sebastián, 18 October 1835 – San Sebastián, 21 September 1906) was a Basque composer, the most famous of the musical family of that name (his father was José Juan Santesteban and his son was pianist Jesús de Santesteban), who wrote the first opera in Basque, Pudente, to a libretto by Serafin Baroja.[1][2][3][4] In 1879 he succeeded his father's post as organist in Santa Maria, Donostia.
In 1863 he inaugurated the installment of a Cavaillé-Collorgan in Santa Maria, Donostia[5][6][7] and in 1879 he succeeded his father's post as organist of the parish.
Works
Pudente, the first Basque opera (2 acts, 15 music numbers, including Gernikako Arbola)
12 masses for grand orchestra
2 Misereres (1 for 4 voices)
Psalms
Motets
24 Préludes pour piano, op. 84 (with dedication "to my friend Tomás Bretón")
Cantos y Bailes Tradicionales Vascongados
References
^Pío Baroja The city of the discreet Page 1 1917 Introduction: "He composed the libretto of the first Basque opera ever produced, the music of which was by Santesteban. He is said to have been responsible for the libretto of one other opera — a Spanish one."
^Samuel Edward Hill Initiation, satiation, resignation: the development of Baroja's ... – Page 10 1964 "His father was a mining engineer and, by avocation, a writer of popular cantos in the Basque language as well as Spanish. Prudente, written by Baroja's father [i.e. by Serafín Baroja], is the first Basque opera known. Baroja himself attributed his interest in literature to ..."
^Obituaries from the Times, 1951–1960 Page 45 Frank C. Roberts – 1979 "His father was the author of the first Basque opera and of popular songs in the Basque language. The young Baroja studied medicine at Valencia and took a medical degree in Madrid at the age of 21."
^Ramón Zallo -Les basques, aujourd'hui – Page 198 2007 Le premier (Pudente), avec une musique de José Antonio Santesteban sur un livret de Serafin Baroja, fut représenté por la première fois en 1884 à Donostia.
^ISO journal: – Numéros 22 à 24 – Page 36 International Society of Organbuilders – 2006 – Extraits "Sein Sohn José Antonio Santesteban, ebenfalls Organist in Santa Maria, fährt in dieser Tätigkeit fort und wird schließlich zum "Vertreter des Hauses Cavaillé-Coll in San Sebastian". Auf die selbe Art und Weise veranlasst José ..."
^Échanges musicaux franco-espagnols: – Page 206 François Lesure, Académie musicale de Villecroze – 2000 Several Spanish pianists worked with him; among others, Eduardo Compta, Isaac Albéniz, Joaquîn Canals, José Antonio Santesteban, Esteban Martî et Agustî Salvans"
