Llanto Por Ignacio Sánchez Mejías

Released by the Erato label in 1978, this recording presents a musical setting of Federico García Lorca's 1935 elegy, Llanto por Ignacio Sánchez Mejías. The work was composed by the French-Spanish composer Maurice Ohana, who sought to capture the visceral intensity of Lorca's poetry, which mourns the death of the bullfighter and poet Ignacio Sánchez Mejías. Ohana’s composition draws upon deep Andalusian roots, integrating percussive elements and vocal styles that echo the cante jondo tradition while maintaining the structural complexities of 20th-century avant-garde music.

The production features a significant collaborative effort, bringing together the Ensemble Ars Nova conducted by Theodor Guschlbauer, with notable contributions from harpsichordist Elisabeth Chojnacka and narration by the actor José Luis Gómez. Critics noted that the recording successfully bridged the gap between classical art music and the raw, tragic spirit of Spanish literature. By utilizing the specific instrumentation favored by Ohana—including the inclusion of the harpsichord as a rhythmic and tonal force—the album became a definitive reference for those exploring the intersection of modern chamber music and Iberian literary heritage.