A street sign in his hometown of Alicante—Calle del Pianista Gonzalo Soriano—and an Avinguda in Villajoyosa, which he cherishes today, are gentle reminders of a remarkable Spanish pianist whose name often goes unspoken. On the 110th anniversary of Gonzalo Soriano’s birth, many regions still overlook a cultural figure who helped shape Spain’s musical map.
Gonzalo Soriano from Alicante stands not only as one of Spain’s most influential pianists but also as one of the great performers born in the Valencian Community. This land of marching bands and wind instruments fostered a generation of pianists in which Soriano served as a benchmark and inspirational force, alongside figures like José Iturbi from Valencia and Leopoldo Querol from Castellón. A Mediterranean lineage emerged, supported by artists such as Mario Monreal, Fernando Puchol, and even today’s talents like Carlos Apellániz, Ricardo Descalzo, Carles Marín, Josu de Solaun, and Xavier Torres, reaching from Vinaròs to Orihuela.
Reviewing a recital from when he was a bright 15-year-old, Diario de Alicante described his performance as clean, straightforward, fresh, and poised, noting a refined sensibility and the best taste. This early praise foreshadowed Soriano’s rise to global distinction. Born in Alicante in 1913 and passing away in Madrid in 1972, he remains linked to the nickname “the gardener of Spain” for the way he nurtured and cultivated a rich repertoire, including the beloved Nights in the Gardens of Spain. Even today, his legacy sits quietly within the memories of piano students and connoisseurs alike.
premature death
Soriano’s life ended suddenly at age 59 due to a heart attack in his Madrid apartment. Yet his career had already flourished, creating a lasting standard in the Spanish music world. He lived through the Civil War, which interrupted his path, and endured the restrictive climate of the early Franco years while sharing a personal life that was private and steadfast. He traveled a challenging road, supporting Estonia and Mariemma during the war years and later accompanying notable stars when opportunities arose. Emerging from a humble family—his father a shop assistant and his mother a housewife—his talent quickly came to light. In Alicante he studied with Antonia Bayona and Rafael Rodríguez, and in Madrid he pursued private lessons with José Cubiles of Cádiz and other mentors that shaped his artistry.
By the mid-1940s, Soriano stood as a leading figure in Spanish piano, programming a mix of old and new works: Soler, Rodrigo, del Campo, Esplà, Montsalvatge, Rodríguez Albert, Pittaluga, Bacarisse, Halffters, and the core Spanish giants Granados, Albéniz, Falla, and Turina. His discography included three recordings of Nights in the Gardens of Spain, including two with Argenta and one with Frühbeck de Burgos; alongside them appeared Ernesto Halffter’s Portuguese Rhapsody and Turina’s Symphonic Rhapsody. His final recording, a complete set of Granados’ Spanish Dances, was released by EMI posthumously, just weeks after his passing, marking the end of an era in Spanish pianism.
One legendary recording remains the subject of legend: the Falla Concerto captured in Paris in 1962 with Frühbeck de Burgos and the Conservatory Concert Ensemble Orchestra. Frühbeck himself remarked to García del Busto that, in his view, this version of Noches was the finest he had ever recorded, a testament to Soriano’s singular musical voice that transcended the era and the spotlight of fame.
Soriano’s close collaboration with Victoria de los Ángeles stands out as a defining chapter. The singer spoke of his art as marked by profound simplicity, describing him as a being capable of reaching higher musical realms without ostentation. De los Ángeles admired his pianism for its quiet excellence, noting that his appeal rested not on flashy virtuosity but on an elite, enduring artistry. Their collaborations produced archives that include intimate performances of Falla, Rodrigo, Debussy, Ravel, Hahn, Ibert, and other French repertoire that endure in memory rather than in constant replays.
International career
Although he stepped back from regular concert life in his later years, Soriano built a substantial international presence through performances with celebrated conductors and orchestras in the 1950s and 1960s. A notable moment was his interpretation of Schumann’s concerto with the New York Philharmonic under Mitropoulos in 1954, and Mozart’s concerto in D minor with the London Symphony in 1955. His collaborations with maestros such as Adrian Boult, Eugene Goossens, Ígor Markévich, Jean Martinon, Hans Rosbaud, Mario Rossi, and Carl Schuricht, along with his strong presence on global stages, underscored the universality of his artistry. He earned recognition as one of the most refined and exemplary piano voices in Spain’s musical history, often referred to as more than just a national treasure but a true international figure who helped elevate Spanish piano performance on the world map.