Britten: Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70

A homage to Julian Bream for his 80th birthday and to the music that was created for him. The CD collects some of the most important pieces for guitar of the 20th century performed by Stefano Grondona, who plays three legendary guitars (one of which belonged to Julian Bream himself) made by Jose Romanillos, who has also turned 80. All the compositions have been important milestones in Stefano Grondona’s career and he shows this in his astonishing interpretations. This album contains one of the best versions of Benjamin Britten’s 'Nocturnal' ever recorded. Benjamin Britten was born 100 years ago and 'Nocturnal after John Dowland' was written 50 years ago: this CD is a perpetual celebration.

It is a remarkable coincidence that 2013 happens to be, along with Britten’s centenary, the 50th anniversary of Nocturnal, the 450th birthday of John Dowland and the 80th birthday of Julian Bream. In an attempt to mark all of these events, this recording presents, along with the Britten, three important works which span the fifty years which have followed it - Walton’s Five Bagatelles, Thomas Wilson’s Dreammusic, and John McLeod’s Fantasy on themes from Britten’s Gloriana, the latter composed specifically to mark Britten’s centenary, alongside short pieces by John Dowland.

This recording is entirely devoted to English music. A reason for that is my interest in the culture and musical world of that country and what concerns its literature, poetry and visual arts. Music in England has always, from its very early period, had a specific and definite character.

This selection ranges from the romanticism of Francisco Tárrega, the Spanish impressionism of Albéniz’s Mallorca and the neo-romanticism of the contemporary Croatian composer, Stjepan Šulek, to Rodrigo’s masterly evocation of the gardens of the Alhambra Palace in Granada and Britten’s revolutionary Nocturnal after John Dowland. Croatian guitarist Srdjan Bulat has won numerous prestigious awards, and was winner of the Certamen Tárrega 2011 which included a special award for his performance of the work of Francisco Tárrega.

Currently an assistant professor at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, András Csáki has given recitals throughout Europe, the United States, South America and Japan, and by 2009 had been awarded eighteen prizes, including first prize in the 42nd Michele Pittaluga Guitar Competition in Alessandria, Italy.

In this wide-ranging recital he interprets Bach’s most technically challenging ‘lute suites’, Britten’s groundbreaking tribute to John Dowland, Duarte’s bravura Variations and one of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s finest solo sonatas.