Granados: Danza española, Op. 37 No. 5 'Andaluza' (Playera)

In this CD in which we can find recordings of some of Segovia’s favourite composers from Albeniz and Granados to the beloved Bach, with the transcription of the Suite BWV 1009 never recorded by Segovia before. The result is superb, wonderful as usual, and is demonstration of a poetry in Segovia’s music that maturity made only more elegant.

In describing ¡España!, Mischa Maisky has stated, “I’ve included Spanish music in my programmes for many years and have been waiting for a chance to record these pieces.” This is his first album with his daughter, the gifted pianist Lily Maisky. Mischa Maisky, “the genius of the cello” (Melómano, Madrid), says that “Emotionally speaking, I feel very close to this music. Wherever I play Granados, Falla and Albéniz onstage, the response is always hugely enthusiastic.”

From the mid 1970’s until his death, Cuban born Jorge Bolet emerged as one of the world’s truly great pianists and one of the last representatives, along with the likes of Cherkassky, Horowitz and Earl Wild, of the great Romantic tradition of pianism. His pedigree was marvellous - a student of Godowsky-disciple David Saperton at the Curtis Institute, there he was also able to play for Godowsky himself and Josef Hofmann. He won the Naumburg competition in 1937 and looked set for a great career, but the war interrupted the flow of things and he struggled through the 1950s & 60s, mainly playing in the USA and not quite making the international ‘big-time’. His big break came with an RCA contract and the release on LP of a stunning live Carnegie Hall concert in 1974. Shortly after, he was signed to Decca and went on to make many award winning discs. But what of the early years? There’s not much, but here, for the first time on CD, we have the four LPs he made in the 1950s. His very first disc was of Latin-American repertoire that he was never to record again. Here also is the first ever recording of Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto in a performance that is still up there with the best.

These almost unknown discs are sure to fascinate, and fill an important gap in the mystery of Bolet’s early career.

‘The music on this CD reflects my character. It tells the listener who I am.’ Miloš Karadaglić

Charismatic guitarist Miloš Karadaglić debuts on Deutsche Grammophon with an album saluting his instrument’s Mediterranean heritage. Born in the Balkan state of Montenegro, Miloš’s love-affair with the guitar began when he was eight, when his father played him a recording of Segovia making magic with Albeniz’s ‘Asturias’. Miloš gave his first public performance at nine, entered (and won) his first national competition at eleven. He became a star performer on television and radio, took guitar master-classes in Belgrade, and then, shortly after the end of the Balkan war, decided to try for a scholarship at London’s Royal Academy of Muisic.

Miloš’s choices of solo repertoire as well as music for guitar and orchestra are guaranteed to appeal to all lovers of guitar, classical and non-classical alike.

“He punched through this trio of ballads (El Decamerón Negro) with an innate poise and elegance that made you sit up and listen . . . And then the firecracker: A superbly inflected, impeccably judged rendition of Ginastera’s Sonata − a giant tapestry of sound combining luminous melancholy and bravura energy” (The Times)

Bonus DVD

The DVD features a 30min documentary with footage filmed in Montenegro and London. The film brings Miloš’s inspirational story to light, an evocative and beautifully photographed piece that explores his background and how he came to be who he is today. It will showcase Miloš’s talent, his style of play and unique approach to classical guitar and his desire to redefine it as a contemporary instrument. Miloš wants to make classical guitar matter; he wants us to fall in love with its beauty and raw passion and bring new audiences to its repertoire.

The film will not just focus on Miloš the guitarist, but also the person behind the guitar. This will build a bridge between the human story and music, giving the viewer an opportunity to get to know a young man from Montenegro and how each stage of his life has contributed to bringing him to this point.