He has a street in Alicante birthplace and a street in Villajoyosa, a city where he spent many summers, but Gonzalo Soriano Simó (Alicante, 1913-Madrid, 1972) remains largely unknown in his homeland. His sudden death from a heart attack at fifty-nine years ended the last years away from the stage, even though those years had already diminished the memory of his name. He pursued an intense international piano career that few can match. Now, a new exhibition highlights his figure on the fiftieth anniversary of his death.
Exhibition Gonzalo Soriano’s photo. The silence of an international pianist is organized by the University of Alicante and the Alicante Professional Conservatory of Music Guitarist José Tomás, opening this Thursday at 7:00 p.m., to illuminate a career that is little known both in Alicante and across Spain. Federico Solano López, deputy director of the conservatory, and teacher Isabel Seva Merino oversee the project, building on a doctoral thesis about the pianist completed by both with UA professors José Miguel Santacreu Soler as curators.
“Many people confuse him with Joaquín Soriano, a Madrid professor, or have heard his name without knowing who he is. He stands as a reference of the first line of pianism in Spain and as a key instrumentalist who played a significant role in Spanish music of the era, with a notable presence in London and other international stages between the forties and sixties,” Solano notes. Recordings include performances with the BBC Orchestra and appearances with the London Philharmonic and the New London Orchestra. He is regarded as one of Spain’s great piano talents, and his playing style was described by The Times as “sparkling.”
Poster of Gonzalo Soriano’s first tour to the United States in 1953-54
Although he excelled in painting, music, and sculpture in his youth, he soon chose piano at the Ateneo de Alicante, studying under Rafael Rodriguez Albert and completing studies at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid in 1929. From his earliest public appearances, such as his 1933 performance with José Ramón Gómez de la Serna at the Teatro Principal in Alicante, cultural leaders predicted a bright future.
Concerts in Europe and America
In the mid-1940s he began giving concerts across Europe—Britain, France, the Netherlands, Italy—before embarking on his first United States tour in 1953. He collaborated with conductors like Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Igor Markevich, and Odón Alonso, and performed with orchestras such as the Spanish National Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Venues included Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Recordings of Nights in the Gardens of Spain, conducted by a noted Argentine director, are celebrated as among the finest interpretations of de Falla’s work. The Spanish dances by Granados also earned high praise, with the recording receiving top recognition in major journals. He was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque by the Charles Cros Academy in Paris for his achievements.
Piano recording of Nights in the Gardens of Spain with Soriano
Always linked to cultural avant-garde circles, he performed at Madrid’s Residencia de Estudiantes, and many national composers entrusted him with premiere works. Works by Federico Mompou, Joaquin Rodrigo, Joaquin Nin, and Xavier Montsalvatge were among the pieces associated with him, including premieres like Sonata pour Yvette in 1962. He collaborated with artists across Spain and also participated in musical and theatrical performances, working with performers such as Estrellita Castro, Mariemma, Pilar López, and Edgar Neville.
Bound to Alicante
Soriano maintained a close connection with Alicante, counting composers and performers such as Rafael Beltrán and Pepa Gomis among his friends. In early 1972 he opened a concert season with the Alicante Concert Society, only to have a sudden death interrupt the event just days later, turning the opening ceremony into a late tribute. A posthumous recognition was organized by a close friend, soprano Victory of the Angels.
Solano explains that Soriano continued performing vigorously until the 1960s when his mother fell ill, after which he reduced his appearances to care for her. He later kept ties with friends and colleagues in the musical world, including a circle linked to the island of Hawaii, where part of his extended family resided, and where some memories of his career linger in local stories.
The exhibition also features a group of individuals connected to Soriano’s life, including Gonzalo Varela Simó, cardiothoracic specialists, and family members who preserved his musical legacy. The display honors a pianist whose career bridged regional and international stages, and who remains a notable but underrecognized figure in the history of Spanish piano music. [Citation: Universidad de Alicante and Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Alicante; curator notes and exhibition materials]