The Last Romantic: The True Story of Spanish Pianist Enrique Granados 1867-1916

By David Rosten

This is the story of Spanish composer and pianist Enrique Granados. This novel will transport the reader to Barcelona, Spain, in the late nineteenth century. It was a time when love was real and passionate, but love was also imperfect. Enrique Granados represented a love of life and was dedicated to his family and to music. This is the story of Granados as he overcomes his worst fears and achieves his greatest triumphs by playing at the Metropolitan Opera House and at the White House in front of President and Edith Wilson. This is the story of The Last Romantic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514439647

David Rosten

About the Author The first time David Rosten traveled to Russia was in the early 1970s. The Cold War was in full swing. It was the first time he was at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He has never forgotten the enormity of the collection. Mr. Rosten has degrees in political science and international and comparative law. He is a community director for the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at the University of California and on the national board of directors for the Olive Tree Initiative at UC–Irvine. He is a former cochair of the dean’s council at UC–Irvine.

Book preview

THE LAST ROMANTIC

The true story of Spanish pianist

Enrique Granados 1867–1916

David Rosten

Copyright © 2016 by David Rosten.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2016900087

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5144-3966-1

       Softcover       978-1-5144-3965-4

       eBook       978-1-5144-3964-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 01/26/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Conclusion

List Of Historical Characters

Music

Author’s Notes

The story is

dedicated to my children Chase, Annika, and Brooke, for keeping my dreams and fantasies alive. Without them, the light would dim and my inspiration would vanish forever. I write this book in honor of composer Enrique Granados on the centennial of his death in 1916.

CHAPTER 1

Barcelona, Spain

1874

Barcelona is the center of Spanish capitalism and has a population of about 350,000 people. On the outskirts of the city, a large Spanish manor house sits surrounded by tall cypress trees, boasting ornate fountains set in lavish formal gardens.

Winding stairs descend from the house to the pool below where two young girls are having a swimming lesson. At eleven years old, Amparo is a fantastic swimmer. Her fifteen-year-old sister, Paulita, can barely stay afloat and struggles in the water.

A young female instructor is in the pool with the girls while they swim laps.

Paulita calls to her sister, Amparo, it’s time to get out of the pool.

Amparo gets out of the pool as Paulita gives her a towel. Amparo dries herself off and covers up with a fluffy white robe.

Amparo says, Please, can’t I swim some more?

No. We are going for a family picnic, her sister responds.

Amparo’s eyes light up, and she says, I love picnics.

As the girls are going inside to get dressed, the swimming instructor says, You both did really well today. See you next week.

Inside the house, Amparo changes into a yellow linen dress. Her mother, Francisca, calls to her, Hurry! The carriage is waiting.

Mama, I just got out of the pool.

There is a quiet knock on the door. Francisca, elegantly dressed, comes into the room. Your father is waiting for us in the carriage.

Mama, I am getting ready.

Francisca says, You need a ribbon for your dress.

I am going to use this white ribbon.

It’s too long. I’m going to get the scissors.

Don’t cut it, Mama!

All right. Just hurry up, Amparo.

Francisca wraps the ribbon around Amparo’s waist twice, and she makes a big bow as they rush out of the house to the waiting carriage.

The horses’ hooves pound the ground rhythmically as the Sabater family travels down a treelined country road in their horse-drawn carriage to the park.

It is Sunday afternoon and there are many people in the park. Children are playing ball, and young lovers in rowboats quietly glide across the lake, which is surrounded by willow trees.

Twelve-year-old Enrique Granados is celebrating his birthday in the park with his family. His seventeen-year-old brother Alexander, his mother Enriqueta, and his father Calixto have prepared a picnic near the lake. Calixto, about fifteen years older than his wife, is wearing a slightly tattered older suit, and Enriqueta is wearing her Sunday best.

She takes out a beautiful cake, and they sing Happy Birthday in Spanish to Enrique.

After they eat cake, Enrique runs down toward the water.

Enriqueta tells him, Enrique, don’t get too close to the water. He slows down, but when his mother isn’t looking, he wanders closer toward the water.

Enrique’s father walks down to the shoreline of the lake with his hands behind his back.

I have a little present for you, Son. I thought this a fine time to give it to you.

Enrique can hardly wait to see his gift. His legs and hands shake with excitement. What is it, Papa?

From behind his back, Calixto pulls out a hand-carved wooden sailboat. Enrique studies the sailboat for a moment and says, Papa, I love it! Is it really for me?

It’s for you. I carved it myself.

Does it float?

Calixto shrugs. I have never tried to sail it. I really don’t know if it will float or not.

Enrique hugs his father and runs closer to the shoreline. Let’s try it, Papa!

Calixto prepares the sails of the small wooden boat and says, Here, give it a little push. He hands the boat to his son, pleased with his happiness at the small gift.

Enrique pushes the boat into the water, and wind fills the sails. The boat gently sails out into the lake and turns back to shore. The tiller on the toy boat is stationary.

Enrique hugs his father again and cries, I love it, Papa! Thank you.

Calixto beams from ear to ear. Happy birthday. Enjoy your boat, he says and turns to make his way back up to his wife and the picnic.

Amparo and Paulita’s father, Francisco Gal y Sabater, dressed in an exquisite linen suit, lays out the blanket for their family picnic, then brings several chairs to the picnic area. His wife, Francisca Catalan, is wearing a laced cream-colored dress and carries a wicker basket to the blanket.

Paulita calmly relaxes on the blanket, wearing a light-blue linen dress, while Amparo, full of exuberant energy, chases butterflies in her yellow dress with the white ribbon.

Amparo watches Enrique as he sails the boat with his father. She begins to bolt toward the water for a closer look, but she stops, thinking it would be more proper to ask her mother for permission.

"May I go down to the lake,