Description
Celebrated Mexican-born pianist Jorge Federico Osorio, ione of the most elegant and accomplished pianists on the planeti (Los Angeles Times) performs Romantic-era concertos and solo pieces by Mexican composers Ricardo Castro and Manuel MarIa Ponce. A recipient of the prestigious Medalla Bellas Artes, the highest honor granted by Mexicois National Institute of Fine Arts, Osorio is joined for the concertos by Mexican conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto, Musical Americais 2019 Conductor of the Year, and the Orquesta SinfUnica de MinerIa.
The works on this recording exemplify the highest point of the romantic musical language in vogue in Mexico at the end of the 19th century, which later initiated the musical Nationalist movement brought on by the Mexican Revolution. Both Castro and Ponce made significant contributions to the development of classical music in Mexico, and their music reflects a synthesis of Mexican and European traditions, with influences from Chopin, Liszt, and Debussy.
Castrois Piano Concerto in A minor exemplifies true romanticism with lavish and spectacular orchestral lines. Serving as companion pieces to the concerto, Osorio performs three of Castrois charming and expressive solo works: Berceuse, Canto de amor, and Plainte. Ponceis Piano Concerto No. 1 iRomanticoi simultaneously exhibits themes of great brilliance for the soloist, lyricism, introspection, virtuosity and beauty. Osorio also performs four of Ponceis short solo piano pieces including one of his most popular works, Gavota, which captures the romantic nostalgia of Mexican society before the Revolution.
