Isaac Albéniz
Isaac Albéniz (1860–1909) was a Spanish pianist and composer whose piano music, steeped in folk idioms, helped give Spanish art music a distinctive national voice.
He is remembered above all for keyboard works that draw on dance rhythms, cante jondo and the colour of Andalusian song, often transferring guitar idioms to the piano. Suites such as Suite española and Chants d’Espagne fixed that language in the concert repertoire; late masterpiece Iberia remains among the most demanding and vivid cycles written for the instrument.
Though he never composed for the guitar, transcriptions of Asturias, Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba and the Tango in D have made his music a staple of that instrument as well. His example raised the standing of Spanish music abroad and encouraged a generation of musicians at home.
Compositions by Isaac Albéniz appear on
Tuba Magnifique
Ian King, painter, scientist and tuba player extraordinaire, joins pianists Margaret Schofield and Dean Sky-Lucas for a wide-ranging recital that is truly très magnifique, spanning Spanish dances, Bach, Fauré and Kreisler.
Yes, It Rings a Bell!
Adrian Tien takes Australia’s National Carillon in Canberra through a wide-ranging programme: Bach and Gershwin, folk airs, carillon originals, and music from some of today’s finest carillon composers.
Bizarre or baRock
Elizabeth Anderson explores harpsichord music across four centuries: from Conceição’s raw 17th-century battle piece and traditional Baroque repertoire to jazz, blues, Gershwin and the Beatles with drums and bass. Weird, wild, wacky and wonderful – you’ve never heard the harpsichord like this.
Reflections
Internationally acclaimed pianist Ronald Farren-Price offers superb performances of some of the greatest music written for the piano, in a wide-ranging recital of favourite short works.
The Latin Muse
Pianist Nancy Tsou brings fire and tenderness to Spanish and Latin American works by Piazzolla, Granados, de Falla, Albéniz and Ginastera. Chosen for intensity of feeling, the programme is played with deep sympathy for the Latin idiom.
Kevin Kanisius Suherman plays Schimmel Konzert 213
For more than a century Schimmel pianos have delighted pianists and listeners. Here young pianist Kevin Suherman presents a recital of well-loved works chosen to display the Schimmel Konzert 213 concert grand.
Impromptu
A collection of Impromptus, Fantasies and Impressions for piano solo, played by Brian Chapman. Although only two pieces carry the title Impromptu, many of the other works share an improvisatory quality.
Breathe
Melbourne duo Nougat – guitarist and composer Tania Ravbar Costantino with mandolinist Ruth Roshan – place Breathe on the cusp of world and classical music.