The album La mia letizia infondere (My heart is full of happiness) by Mexican tenor Héctor Sandoval takes us on a journey to Giuseppe Verdi, presenting arias especially from Verdi’s early oeuvre or earlier versions of subsequently revised works – precisely because they allow us to hear Verdi at his young and original freshest. As writing for voice was his sole concern, the melodies are simpler, their treatment totally uninhibited, devoid of any mannerism or layers of complexity. With accompaniment by the Philharmonia Baden-Baden conducted by Pavel Baleff, Sandoval interprets excerpts from I Lombardi, Ernani, I due Foscari, Macbeth, I Masnadieri, Don Carlo, Simon Boccanegra, Un ballo in maschera and Luisa Miller.

Héctor Sandoval started his career in his native city Mexico. Fascinated by the world of theatre and opera he took lessons at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City from 1987 to 1993. His teacher was the well-known professor Enrique Jaso. Sandoval traveled to Europe in 1994, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik (now University of Music and Performing Arts) in Vienna. Héctor Sandoval became the Singer of the Year in the years 2001 and 2003. Mr. Sandoval’s engagements have taken him to all major opera houses in Europe, the United States and Latin America. In 2013 he took part in the production of Don Carlo at the Bolshoi Theatre, singing the title role (director Adrian Noble). Sandoval has also performed, among others, at Bregenzer Festspiele, Theater St. Gallen, Vienna State Opera, Teatro La Maestranza de Sevilla and Copenhagen Royal Opera.

The Baden-Baden Philharmonic’s history according to the tradition of supporting a recognised ensemble of musicians dates back to 1460. A listing from the year 1580 allows us to appreciate today the rich collection of instruments and music scores held by the Margrave of Baden’s orchestra. At the start of the 19th century still limited to the warmer months of the year, the musicians’ activities were extended to cover the entire year from 1854 on. The orchestra’s guest book shows the Greatest of music history, like Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss or Johannes Brahms, and more than 35 CD recordings are also testament to the achievements of the orchestra.

Since January 2007 Pavel Baleff is Principal Conductor of the Baden–Baden Philharmonic. Starting 2021 he is also appointed Music Director of the Theater Nordhausen and the Loh-Orchestra Sondershausen, Germany. From 2022 on he will be Music Director of the Opéra de Limoges in France. Baleff is a regular guest conductor of several national and international orchestras. He won the International Classical Music Award 2012, also German Record Critics Award 2012, 2014 and 2017 with Krassimira Stoyanova and the Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra.