Hola, ¡Feliz Pascua! This is Barbara, your guide to the latest cultural news from the Spanish-speaking world. Since I have been working on a paper to get it submitted in time, I haven’t had much time to publish on this blog. However, with sadness, I have recently learned that Sergio Pagán has retired from RNE’s Radio Clásica so I would like to use this newsletter as a tribute to this dedicated journalist and music lover. Congratulations to him and good luck in this new phase of his life. If you don’t know his programs, try them out. Even though Pagán has retired, all his latest programs can be found on all popular podcast platforms.
Sergio Pagán is best known for directing and presenting the radio programs Música antigua and La hora de Bach for over 20 years. I was a big fan of his program Música antigua because thanks to it I learned a lot about pre-classical music - from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period - as part of Europe’s history of ideas. The late-night program’s mission is the following:
Con Música Antigua pretendemos mostrar la inmensa riqueza de los cerca de diez siglos de música (desde el siglo VIII al XVIII) que no es muy frecuente escuchar. La música de la Edad Media como la del Renacimiento y del primer Barroco es extraordinariamente variada y atractiva. Por ello los programas son muy diferentes uno del otro. Además cada día dedicamos el programa a un tema (La muerte, los pájaros, Venecia, el Amor, los madrigales..), así que es un reto encontrar músicas referente a esos temas y que cumplan los niveles de indiscutible calidad musical e interpretativa, condición indispensable para ser incluida. (https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/musica-antigua/)
Translation: With Música Antigua we intend to show the immense richness of nearly ten centuries of music (from the eighth to the eighteenth century) that is not often heard. The music of the Middle Ages as well as that of the Renaissance and early Baroque is extraordinarily varied and attractive. That is why the episodes are very different from each other. In addition, each episode is dedicated to a theme (death, birds, Venice, love, madrigals...), so it is challenging to find music referring to these themes that meet the levels of indisputable musical and interpretative quality, an indispensable condition to be included.
In one of his last episodes, Pagán explains how he got his ideas for the various programs and how he transformed his inspiration into a coherent and dedicated episode. You can listen to it here: Cómo se hace Música antigua.
I liked the dedication with which he prepared his programs revealing his love and knowledge of music and art. Pagán has a very calm and friendly voice. I admit I often listened to the episodes when I needed to relax. I also listened to the program when travelling. I cherish his mind and voice of pleasant civility and education. The episode “The Curse of Beautiful Places” in which he establishes a link between the risks of today’s over-tourism, natural sounds and ancient music to defend the beauty of nature that surrounds us is a fine example of his program concept.
For me, his retirement has come as a surprise, but looking up his birth year, 1960, I guess it was a just decision to retire young enough to refocus on his other interests. I am sure he will continue to spread his love for music, e.g. through his collaboration with Fundación March. If interested, you can read this lovely interview with him about his career and future endeavours. I am a bit afraid that with his retirement, the program will soon stop. For the time being, it is continued by his current team, with long-time collaborator Clara Sanmartí from Barcelona on the microphone. For the time being, the program has been remaining close to Pagán’s legacy.
This is all for today. I wish you all a Happy Easter weekend. I will be back in about two weeks with news from my spring break in Nerja/Andalucía. Hasta luego.