Falla: El sombrero de tres picos: Danza del molinero (farruca) (Miller's Dance, Danse du meunier)

There is a great variety of performers, traditions, and composers represented in volume 4 of this pioneering series.

The pianists comprise the well known, the undeservedly neglected, and the tragic. One such is Rosa Tamarkina, a prodigiously talented musician, who died at 30. There is Liza Fuchsova, a brilliant Czech, who can be heard in a rare 1944 HMV disc. Lilly Dymont was recorded in Berlin in 1930, Marie-Thérèse Fourneau in wartime Paris, and Winifred Christie in London in 1921. Of volume 3 (8111217) Gramophone wrote: ‘a fascinating series… and brilliant assembly, which makes you look forward to volume 4.’

This recording from 1960 features some of the most famous guitar repertoire including Recuerdos de l’Alhambra and Capricho arabe (Tarrega), Asturias (Albeniz) and Serenata Española (Malat).

Few pieces encapsulate Liszt’s genius as comprehensively as his two piano concertos. They not only showcase his dazzling technical ability, but also his skills as a musical visionary. Both took almost 25 years of painstaking work to complete, during which time he made drastic revisions, enhancing the role of the orchestra and the structural unity, and developing what Robert Schumann called ‘a new and brilliant way to weld the orchestra and piano together’.

Byron Janis’s 1962 Moscow recording of these concertos has assumed legendary status. Janis was a former child prodigy who studied with Vladimir Horowitz during the 1940s, and was considered one of the most brilliant American pianists of his generation before his career was cut short by illness. He was chosen in 1960 to spearhead a new cross-cultural exchange between the USA and USSR, and made such an impact that the American Mercury recording team went over to the USSR to record this collaboration. The recordings were made at the height of Janis’s career, and are probably some of the most accomplished he ever made.

Janis’s own agile technique and unfussy style bring a welcome sparkle and structural lucidity to this music.

During the 1962 sessions Janis also recorded a small selection of solo miniatures by Schumann, Falla and Guion. The previous year he also recorded three pieces by Liszt: the Hungarian Rhapsody No.6, his Valse oubliée No.1 and Sonetto 104 del Petrarca from the Années de pèlerinage: 2ème année, and these are all included here.

2CDs for price of 1

This comprehensive collection includes works for two guitars, solo guitar, flute and guitar and violin and guitar.

The highly acclaimed French cellist Anne Gastinel collaborates with virtuoso Argentine guitarist Pablo Márquez in a delightful release exploring the passion and soul of Spanish music.

The follow up to her successful Schubert Sonatas and Bach Suites albums sees Gastinel select the pieces and arrange them for cello. The recording includes Spanish Classical music standards by Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla and Gaspar Cassadó. Anne Gastinel records exclusively for Naïve, each new release is hailed by the international press and showered with awards. Achievements include: French Classical Music Awards 'Most Promising Young Talent 94' and 'Best Recording of the Year'; 'Fnac' Prize 1995 and 2000; Prix de l'Académie du Disque; RTL Classique d'Or 1996 and 1998; the “Choc” du Monde de la Musique, Télérama (1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002). Pablo Márquez’s recordings for ECM New Series and Kairos have received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix du Disque de l’Acedémie Charles Cros, the Amadeus Prize.

Yoko Suzuki began her piano training at the age of three and at the tender age of five she began accompanying on the organ at her local church. In 2001, she decided to move to Barcelona. There she studied with the great pianist and teacher Alicia de Larrocha. In addition, she became acquainted with the works of the composer Mompou and is now managed by his widow, the pianist Carmen Bravo.

Described as “The Royal Family of the Guitar” Los Romeros celebrate 50 years as a guitar quartet in 2008. At the GRAMMY awards on 8 February 2007 Los Romeros were honored with the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award in recognition of their achievements. The story of Los Romeros started with Celedonio Romero (19117-1996).

A self-taught guitar virtuoso who taught each of his sons to play the guitar as soon as they were able to hold the instrument – thus Celin, Ángel and Pepe developed and brought the guitar to a global significance as individual soloists and as members of Los Romeros. The ensemble has commissioned and premiered new works and numerous arrangements over the past half century and began recording initially for Mercury (in the early 1960s) and then for Philips. This new compilation features recordings made over more than thirty years and features the ensemble as well as individual members of this remarkable family in a wide variety of original works and arrangements.