Falla: Tus ojillos negros

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.

Works of Manuel de Falla - widely regarded as the most distinguished Spanish composer of the early twentieth century - are strongly influenced by Spanish folk music in which the guitar is central. Although he composed only one piece for that instrument his inspiration was flamenco and early Spanish music, including the guitar works of Gaspar Sanz. The guitar also features in Falla‘s first great success, the opera ‘La Vida Breve’. For this recording, we have selected and transcribed works in which the influence of the guitar was dominant thus translating these pieces back to their original source of inspiration. We felt that adding percussion would enhance the rhythmic element that is most characteristic for the music of Spain. We hope that showing De Falla’s work in this dynamic light will bring new audiences to his brilliant music.

Rythmic elements in exciting arrangements played by specialist DAVID GARCIA MIR.

Starring JUANITA LASCARRO, who made a spectacular British operatic debut as the heroine of Strauss' Daphne and continues to sing the coming season principal roles in many of the major European theatres.

"The twins Peter and Zoltán Katona have created a guitar duo noted for spirited interpretations, amazing virtuosity, and an uncanny ensemble that many attribute to their shared genetic heritage. The brothers from Budapest move and breathe together, and they mark changes of mood with an exchange of glances that highlights their musical decisions. And in their Saturday concert at Herbst Theatre, the Katona Twins united what had once seemed to be the irreconcilable opposites of Bream’s unbridled enthusiasm and Williams’ calm mastery. " SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE, 14 MARCH 2009