Madi Diaz - Fatal Optimist - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Sergio Alvarez - Cuba, Cuba! The Most Popular Songs [COMPACT DISCS] date 05/03/2005

Astor Piazzolla's name is synonymous with Nuevo Tango, an experimental compound of traditional and contemporary influences, and this recording offers a bouquet of his finest music in wholly original arrangements for classical accordion and piano. This selection includes the unforgettable Milonga del angel as well as the evocative suite The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The Double Concerto 'Hommage a Liege' is one of Piazzolla's most classically orientated works, by turns playful, catchy and lyric, while the examples drawn from his film music are among his most enduring. Geir Draugsvoll is considered to be one of the most versatile musicians on the classical accordion. He has performed with world class orchestras, conductors and musicians such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Dresden, and others. He has also released several albums, all to critical acclaim. Mette Rasmussen studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, and at Artlife International in Paris. She has performed as soloist and chamber musician in Scandinavia, Switzerland, France and China, and has broadcast on radio and TV, as well as appearing at several festivals and important venues.

This Dux double CD brings to the fore the somewhat forgotten composer Alexander Kulikowski (1915-93). Hailing from Vilnius he settled in Warsaw after the end of WWII, where he took up teaching and composing. Disc One of this set comprises duo chamber works, including a suite for cello and piano, and the Mountain Triptych for small chamber ensemble. Disc two contains songs, some with texts written by Kulikowski himself, sung by soprano Anna Mikolajczyk accompanied by pianist Edward Wolanin.