Rodrigo: Cuatro madrigales amatorios

Written between 1902 and 1965, the canciones recorded here faithfully reflect both the evolution of Spanish art song in the 20th century and the attachment of its composers to France. Manuel de Falla’s famous Seven Spanish Folksongs are placed here alongside elegant little gems like the Three Spanish Songs and Four Sephardic Songs of Joaquín Rodrigo.

From the enchantments of Andalusia to the laments of León, this disc invites you on a journey through a Spain of dreams.

Born in Buenos Aires to Slovenian parents, Bernarda Fink studied at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón. She was recently heard in Mahler’s 'Resurrection' Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Simon Rattle, works by Bach with Harnoncourt at the Vienna Musikverein and Mahler’s 'Kindertotenlieder' with the Nash Ensemble at the Wigmore Hall. She gives song recitals in the principal European and American musical centres and her recordings are regularly acclaimed by the international press.

The Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra is the work that brought world-wide fame to the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. The beautiful and ever popular adagio theme from the concerto is at the heart of the selection of songs and instrumentals on this new recording from the Spanish Art Quartet.

The Spanish Art Quartet made its international debut in 1996, and since then the group has developed a reputation for its colourful and innovative approach to the repertoire.

This debut from mezzo-soprano Polly May includes premiere recordings of the original versions of Judith Weir’s Songs from the Exotic

Rodrigo’s songs span the whole of his long creative life, and like much of his output is inspired by Spanish traditional music, and ranges over intimate settings for piano (or guitar), chamber ensembles and full orchestral accompaniments. Famous across the world as the composer of the Concierto de Aranjuez, Rodrigo has much more to offer and delight than this one beautiful guitar concerto. The songs include the official works commissioned by government ministries, and the reflective settings of Spanish poetry. This set is a huge treasure trove of delightful, picturesque and acute responses to Spanish poetry, ranging from intimate songs to grand declamations on the scale of oratorio: all marked by Rodrigo’s ready gift for melody and ear for instrumental colour. Many of these recordings are unique in terms of repertoire, and most have not been available for some years. They have never been presented together, and now form a hugely important plank in the ambitious project to issue the oeuvre of one of the most important and best loved composers of the 20th century,

Booklet notes and sung texts on an accompanying CD-ROM.

Unusual repertoire, and a little known facet of this famous Spanish composer.

Includes liner notes written by Rodrigo’s daughter.

Additional notes and sung texts available online.

A welcome addition to the everexpanding Brilliant Classics’ Edition catalogue.

On this, the largest set ever compiled of one of the last century's most popular composers, we may not only renew our familiarity with the Concierto de Aranjuez, or perhaps with one of the other evermelodious guitar concertos that sustain his reputation with audiences, but also discover chamber, instrumental, choral and especially vocal works which testify to a creative imagination confident in the formation of its style but never satisfied with repetition, one which responded directly to poetic and lyric inspiration, and transformed its ideas with unfailing skill and respect for the idiom under consideration. The floating melismas that open the Cantico dedicated to St Francis of Assisi share a visionary aspect with the hymns on Qum'ran texts that are as far as can be imagined from the jolly folkloristic character of certain song‐cycles. There are plenty of homages to music of the past such as the baroqueries of the piano music, much of it written for his wife Cecilia, but one never forgets that Rodrigo was a creature of his age.

The performances gathered here are authoritative, many of them made as they were under the aegis of the Rodrigo Foundation, and many also exclusive to the Rodrigo Edition on Brilliant Classics. For anyone who loves Spanish music, anyone who wants to listen beyond the Concierto de Aranjuez, or anyone who delights in unfailingly tuneful music, this set will have a compelling appeal.