DIGIPACK CD - Extensive liner notes, including complete Lecuona biography.
ERNESTO LECUONA (1895 - 1963) was the most important cuban composer of the XX century. He was nicknamed "the Cuban Gershwin". His Latino style profoundly impressed both European and American listeners and was an immediate fascination for many big bands. He wrote more than 400 songs, 176 pieces for the piano, 50 theatrical pieces and 31 orchestral works. Lecuona was also an enchanting pianist. Musically, his work for the piano introduces elements of remarkable originality despite having dealt in a non-avant-garde ambient. To the influences of the refined music of the first half of the century, he adds a re-evaluation of the Spanish tradition, and additionally Cuban, in a classical key. His attempt, certainly achieved, at integrating rhythms and traditional melodic expressions with the structures of the late-Romantic writing for the piano, is of absolute interest.
MARIO SOLLAZZO was born in Naples on March 30, 1974. He graduated from the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome in Piano and Chamber Music. He continued his piano studies at the Musikhochschule of Detmold in Germany and later in music composition at the Musikhochschule of Dresda. He is a pianist, clavichord player, and opera composer both in the instrumental and electronic musical scope.
KHA Records is an Italian independent company based in Rome since 1998 with the aim of building up a quality catalogue and paying special attention to contemporary repertoire and performances.
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