Philidor / Beaudin / Staskiewicz / Figueroa - Les Femmes Vengees - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Composers of every era have drawn on the strengths, sorrows and joys of women for operas and vocal works, inspiring some of their most powerful music. From the heartbreaking tragedy of Samuel Barber's Andromache's Farewell to the magical storytelling of Sheherazade and the Fairy-Tale Princess, acclaimed soprano Seljan Nasibli takes us on a timeless journey through female musical ancestors whose courage is as relevant in today's society as it has ever been.

Femmes d'Espagne (Spanish Women) is a tribute to eight composers, most of whom are also pianists, who made Andalusia their musical homeland and spread it all over the world. Just as she usually does in her piano recitals, the versatile Paula Coronas has united in this record acclaimed authors with others not yet much known and in need for a revival of their music, thus emphasizing her unwavering personal commitment to Spanish music of the last two centuries. The interpretations of the malagueña (a traditional flamenco variety from Málaga), forged from the extensive knowledge of the foremost works of piano literature, dignify and update these pages. This recording means a contribution for future generations to gain an understanding and to become aware of the historical relevance of those figures that ennobled the meridional folkloric music styles and turned them into a distinctly Spanish pianism a genuine and extraordinary music art.

Voies(x) de femme is an album grouping twenty-six pieces for soprano and piano, performed by the soprano Theodora Cottarel and the pianist and composer Tiziana de Carolis. It also includes a piece for choir and piano performed by the choir Florilegium vocis, conducted by Sabino Manzo, and accompanied by the pianist Maria Gabriella Bassi. The works which make up this album have one thing in common and that is they are all composed by women; past and present composers who have succeeded through sheer willpower in making their voices (voix) heard and in following their artistic paths (voies), despite prejudice and masculine predominancy in the musical world. The album Voies(x) de femmes desires to reveal to the general public pages of music of great quality, often unpublished, unknown or underestimated.