Rodrigo: Piano Music, Vol. 1

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Cat No: 8557272

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Release Date: 01 December 2004

Label: Naxos / Naxos Classics

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 747313227228

Genres: Classical

Composer/Series: RODRIGO

Description
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)Piano Music 1Throughout his long life Joaquin Rodrigowrote more than two hundred compositions,creating a prolific variety of orchestral pieces,concertos, songs, and instrumental music forguitar, piano, violin, cello, and other instruments,now increasingly in demand and appreciatedworld-wide. This recording presents some of thefinest examples of Rodrigo's piano works. Thecomposer was a virtuoso pianist who played manyrecitals at various periods of his life, featuringboth his own compositions and representativeselections of Spanish keyboard masters from thesixteenth century onwards. His formidablememory and brilliant technique ensured that hewas soon established as an impressive performerwho also wrote for the piano with insight andpanache.Joaquin Rodrigo was born on St Cecilia'sDay, 22nd November, 1901, in Sagunto,Valencia. In 1905, an outbreak of diphtheriaimpaired his vision and within a few years he lostevery vestige of sight. From the age of seven heattended the School for the Blind in Valencia,where, with his musical gifts becomingincreasingly apparent, he played the violin andpiano. Later he took composition lessons withFrancisco Antich Carbonell, renowned organistand maestro at the local parish church. In theautumn of 1927 the young composer travelled toParis, enrolling at the Ecole Normale de Musique.His teacher, Paul Dukas, one of the masters ofearly twentieth century French music, greatlyinfluenced Rodrigo, especially in aspects oforchestration. In 1928 the French Presidentawarded Manuel de Falla the National Legion ofHonour. Rodrigo performed his own piano piecesat the ceremony, thus extending his reputation ascomposer and pianist.Around the same time Rodrigo met VictoriaKamhi, a young Jewish pianist from Istanbul, thedaughter of a businessman. Despite variousdifficulties, financial and otherwise, theyeventually married in January 1933. But a yearlater, hardship enforced separation, a dilemmaresolved only when Rodrigo was awarded aprestigious Conde de Cartagena Scholarship,enabling him to be reunited with his wife in Paris.In 1936 disaster struck again when the SpanishCivil War began and the Scholarship fund was nolonger available. Eventually Rodrigo and his wifefound refuge for eighteen months at the Institutefor the Blind in Freiburg, Germany. In 1938 hevisited Spain briefly to lecture and perform at theSantander Summer School but, failing to obtainsuitable employment in his native land, wascompelled to live for another year in Paris. In1939 Rodrigo completed the Concierto deAranjuez, a work which soon becameinternationally famous.Rodrigo returned to Spain at the beginning ofSeptember 1939. Life was difficult, but with helpfrom colleagues, including Falla, Rodrigo wasoffered various salaried appointments and afteryears of deprivation, the tide began to turn withthe premi?¿re in Barcelona of Concierto deAranjuez on 9th November, 1940. On 27thJanuary, 1941, Rodrigo's daughter, Cecilia, wasborn. Rodrigo's repu
Tracklisting