Argenta began to conduct the Orquesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Orchestra) more often. In January 1946, his radio contract was not renewed. In 1946, the SNO had begun a search for a replacement for Bartolomé Pérez Casas, the aging conductor of the SNO. The candidates included Franz von Hoesslin, and Argenta renewed his acquaintance with von Hoesslin, who later died in a plane crash. Argenta later became the SNO’s assistant conductor, and in November 1946, the SNO's second conductor. On 2 January 1947, he was named joint director of the SNO, and conducted 80 concerts with the orchestra in one year.[2]
In 1950, Argenta and Juana had their fifth and last surviving child, another girl. They settled in Los Molinos. In November 1950, Argenta conducted the Paris Conservatory Orchestra for the first time and continued to direct them regularly until his death. Also in 1950, Argenta began to conduct a series of recordings of zarzuelas for the Alhambra record label. He eventually made over 50 zarzuela recordings, and recordings of zarzuela selections.[3] He conducted the soundtrack for the film La Cancion de Malibran, which premiered in October 1951.
On 15 February 1954, an article written by Argenta was published in the Madrid arts magazine Ateneo. It strongly criticized the Spanish musical scene under Franco, including criticism of Joaquin Rodrigo. Rodrigo himself responded in print. The resulting controversy forced Argenta to apologize for the article,[4] and caused a rupture in Argenta's relationship with Rodrigo. He made his first appearance with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) in 1954, which led to several later commercial recordings for Decca.
During the night of 21 January 1958, he died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning at Los Molinos, Madrid.[1]
In January 2008, the 50th anniversary of Argenta's death was commemorated in Spain with concerts, exhibitions and conferences,[5] as well as the publication of two biographies.[6]
^Salvador Arias Nieto, Ataúlfo Argenta Una batuta para la historia, Aula de Cultura La Venencia, 2008; Juan González-Castelao, Ataúlfo Argenta (1913-1958): estudio biográfico, analítico e interpretativo , forthcoming June 2008
^Morrison, Robert R. (March 1959). "Zarzuelas on Records". Hispania. 42 (1). American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese: 81–83. doi:10.2307/334703. JSTOR334703.
^Many of these Decca and Alhambra recordings have been released on CD, most notably, Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Ataulfo Argenta (EMI Classics 75097) and The Complete Decca Recordings of Ataúlfo Argenta, 1953-1957 (Decca 4757747/5)
