Catalan Art Song: Signat l'amic del cor: a song cycle by Nicolas Gutierrez

Signat l'amic del Cor is a song cycle by Nico Gutiérrez for mezzo-soprano, piano, and audio samples. Comprised of five songs, Signat l'amic del Cor is sung entirely in Catalan and is a tribute to two of Catalonia's most prominent and distinguished poets. Based on the texts by Carles Duarte and Màrius Sampere, this cycle explores themes of love, nature and, most importantly, water in a contemporary, neo-impressionist soundscape. Written in 2019, the cycle was premiered by Patricia Caicedo and Nikos Stavlas at the 15th annual Barcelona Festival of Song at the Palau de la Música Catalana.

In this cycle, Nicolás Gutierrez knew how to capture the depth of the poetry as well as the rhythm of the Catalan language. Signat l´amic del cor is a 21st-century cycle; it includes electronic elements, like the sound of the sea or the recording of the voice of one of the poets. These elements contribute to highlighting the meaning of the poem, making the cycle more accessible to contemporary audiences.

This cycle brings freshness and diversity to the genre of art song by giving life to the Catalan language, one of the most beautiful and least sung Romance languages. We are sure that this music will be heard in concert halls around the world.