Albéniz: Iberia, books 1-4 (complete)

These unique recordings make their first appearance on CD. Some make their first ever appearance on Decca! Jean Morel (1903–75) counted among his teachers Isidore Philipp, Gabriel Pierné and Reynaldo Hahn. He established a connection with the United States early on, teaching at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleu between 1921 (when he was just eighteen!) and 1936. his conducting pupils included James Levine and Leonard Slatkin. Morel’s conducting bore many similarities to that of his countryman Pierre Monteux. His style was bright, clear and energetic, and he always gave the music’s colour its due. Appearing here is the only recording in the Decca catalogue of the complete orchestral version of Albéniz’s Iberia – in orchestrations by Arbós and Surinach. Completing this Spanish-flavoured program is music by Chabrier, Bizet and Ravel. The legendary Decca engineer Kenneth Wilkinson is responsible for the great ‘Decca Sound’.

Born in Tokyo, Kotaro Fukuma began learning the piano at the age of 5 and went on to study with Mitsuko Uchida, Richard Goode and Alicia de Larrocha.

In 2003, at the age of 20, he won the First Prize and the Chopin Prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition and since then his concert career has developed on five continents. A stunning debut.

"Pizarro has no rivals." International Record Review

“Romantic music comes naturally to Pizarro; his delicate touch and sense of lyrical line are assured.” The Observer

Prize-winning pianist Artur Pizarro turns his considerable talents to Iberia, the highly virtuosic masterpiece by Isaac Albéniz, and Goyescas by Enrique Granados, considered to be the Spanish composer's finest work. These demanding works showcase Artur’s enviable technique and extreme virtuosity.

Iberia is Albéniz’s last major work and is remarkable for its innovative keyboard writing, its authentic and characterful Spanish colours and the immense virtuosic challenge it presents.

The legacy of great Spanish composers and pianists permeated Artur’s musical education and upbringing creating in him a natural affinity to this evocative music.

Artur recorded the album on a specially made Blüthner piano, which was designed to replicate the sound of an early 20th century instrument and allowed him to mould and shape the instrument as his own.

Artur’s performance of Iberia at London’s Wigmore Hall in November 2009 was met with critical acclaim, The Telegraph stated: “Pizarro gave us a fine display of pianism”.

Prize-winning concert virtuoso Artur Pizarro is a regular live performer. Throughout 2010 he will perform the complete solo works of Chopin in a nine concert series at St John's, Smith Square, London to mark the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth.

Artur has recently been selected as the international ambassador for the new Yamaha AvantGrand piano. This will see Artur performing around Europe and involved in international campaigns.

Renowned for his lyrical poeticism and outstanding virtuosity, pianist Artur Pizarro has a close affiliation with both BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM - both regularly broadcast his live performances and recordings.

The name of Alicia de Larrocha is synonymous with Spanish music and her substantial and wide-ranging discography for Decca includes several recordings of music by Albéniz and Granados which are regarded as definitive. Larrocha first recorded Iberia for Decca in 1972 and revisited the work in 1986. It is this second, multi award-winning recording which now appears in Decca "Originals", and for the first time at mid-price.

A special limited edition of the recording of Albéniz's Iberia Suite, performed by the distinguished Spanish pianist Rosa Torres-Pardo.

Illustrations for this beautiful double-disc set have been provided by Eduardo Arroyo, a noted figure in the neo-figurative movement, and the booklet additionally contains articles penned by writer and director Javier Rioyo and musician and Albéniz specialist Antonio Iglesias.The recording was made by Torres-Pardo in the town where Albéniz was born, Camprodón in Gerona, and intriguingly, also contains four of the 12 individual pieces in 'double' versions: played first on a modern piano and then on the instrument that was owned by the composer himself.