Various Artists - Heritage - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Violinist Aisha Syed Castro (b.1989) may well be one of the most remarkably gifted musicians to come from the Dominican Republic and the team at Divine Art are tremendously excited to have signed this young virtuoso for an album of works with principally American and Latin roots. She has been described as a 'virtuoso' by the press on three continents, and has not only engaged in a busy and highly successful performing career but is tireless in her work for the underprivileged. Aisha is the Honorary Cultural Goodwill Ambassador of the Dominican Republic and works devotedly through charitable ventures (some of which she founded) to bring classical music to the underprivileged and socially disadvantaged. In her new album, Aisha has brought together a program of works that have special meaning for her, from Spanish/ Latin/ American sources, including extracts from 'West Side Story', works by the Dominican maestro Rafael Solano, music from black composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and William Grant Still, and well-known little masterpieces by Piazzolla, Granados and Albeníz. A special piece for the artist is 'Aisha's Dance' from Khachaturian's Gayaneh ballet, which she has played since she was 15. This recording was made in April 2019 in England and is a sparkling and exotic program of masterworks. Aisha's musical partner here is pianist Martin Labazevitch who also arranged the closing track, a medley of hymns dear to Aisha including a beautiful rendering of the timeless 'Amazing Grace'. Martin is a Steinway artist who has attracted rave reviews around the world for his lyricism and intensity of performance.

The aim of this recording is not just to be a musicological curiosity, but to arouse the audience's awareness of pieces and composers who have not yet been recorded, or are played less frequently; to inspire my colleagues to practice and master the special techniques in these works, and to show the way for interpretations of the works of Hungarian and Transylvanian composers, an interpretation which as well as the traditions of the Hungarian string school, draws only from clear mountain springsInch through personal relationships.Inch (Ildikó Szabó) Acclaimed for her musical intellect and imagination coupled with technical virtuosity, Ildiko´ Szabo´ is a laureate of the Pablo Casals International Cello Competition where she was the winner of the 2nd Prize, the Audience Award, and 7 Special Prizes. She is also a top prize winner of the German Music Competition, TONALi, Popper International Competition, Janigro International Competition and Liezen International Competition. Album Tracks 1. Sonata for Solo Cello~I.Dialogo 2. Sonata for Solo Cello~II. Capriccio 3. Two Poems to Polly 4. Sayings of Péter Bornemisza, Op. 7~Faith / Az hit... 5. János Pilinszky Gérard de Nerval (for Zoltán Kocsis) 6. Shadows (for Miklós Perényi) 7. Hommage à John Cage 8. Hilary Jig (to Hilary Behrens 90) 9. Suite for Cello Solo with Cowbells~I. Quarter-tone melody 10. Suite for Cello Solo with Cowbells~II. Cowbells 11. Suite for Cello Solo with Cowbells~III. Quarter-tone harmony 12. Suite for Cello Solo with Cowbells~IV. Finale 13. Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8~I. Allegro maestoso ma appassionato 14. Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8~II. Adagio (con grand espressione) 15. Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8~III. Allegro molto vivace

Album Tracks 1. CL Con, Op.57 Allegretto Un Poco/Poco Adagio - Allegro No Troppo - Allegro Vivace - Louis Cahuzac 2. Ser in Vano Allegro Non Troppo Ma Briosco - Aage Oxenvad/Knud Larsson/Hans Sorensen/Louis Jensen/Ludwig Hegner 3. QNT, Op.43 Allegro Ben Moderato 4. QNT, Op.43 Menuet 5. QNT, Op.43 PRLD Adagio - Tema Con Var I-XI - Andantino Festivo