Cristiano Porqueddu - Russian Guitar Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries (2017)

Tracklist
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01. Etude No. 1
02. Etude No. 2
03. Prelude et Valse: I. Prelude
04. Prelude et Valse: II. Valse
05. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude I
06. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude II
07. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude III
08. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude IV
09. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude V
10. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude VI
11. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude VII
12. 12 Preludes For Guitar: Prelude VIII
13. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude IX
14. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude X
15. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude XI
16. 12 Preludes for Guitar: Prelude XII
17. Six Romances in Old Style: I. Andante
18. Six Romances in Old Style: II. In memory of Varlamov
19. Six Romances in Old Style: III. Adagio
20. Six Romances in Old Style: IV. Andante
21. Six Romances in Old Style: V. Tempo di valzer, Mosso
22. Six Romances in Old Style: VI. Epilogue
23. Theme with Variations after Tchaikovsky
24. Dedication to the Russian Land
25. Sonata for Guitar: I. Moderato, Intimo
26. Sonata for Guitar: II. Allegro, Drammatico
27. Prelude in D Minor
28. Prelude in E Minor
29. Serenade
30. Toccata
31. Sonata for Guitar: I. Moderato
32. Sonata for Guitar: II. Andantino
33. Sonata for Guitar: III. Presto
34. Sonata for Guitar: I. Toccata
35. Sonata for Guitar: II. Berceuse
36. Sonata for Guitar: III. Souvenir D'Espagne
37. Four Preludes for Guitar: Prelude I
38. Four Preludes for Guitar: Prelude II
39. Four Preludes for Guitar: Prelude III
40. Four Preludes for Guitar: Prelude IV
41. Sonatine: I. Andante Rubato
42. Sonatine: II. Allegretto
43. Two Visions in White: I. Andante
44. Two Visions in White: II. Rhytmically Free
45. The Old Lime Tree
46. Ghosttrack: Popular "Dark Eyes"
47. Five Stichera for Guitar: Sticheron I
48. Five Stichera for Guitar: Sticheron II
49. Five Stichera for Guitar: Sticheron III
50. Five Stichera for Guitar: Sticheron IV
51. Five Stichera for Guitar: Sticheron V
52. Sonata I
53. Sonata II: I. Allegro
54. Sonata II: II. Lento
55. Sonata II: III. Alla Marcia
56. Sonata III: I. Agitato
57. Sonata III: II. Andante
58. Sonata III: III. Maestoso
Of all Cristiano Porqueddu's adventurous guitar-music surveys on record for Brilliant Classics, the latest may be the most invaluable and enlightening for listeners who may never even have suspected that Russia had a rich guitar tradition of its own.
As a detailed booklet essay complementing this new recording explains, the guitar flourished during the first half of the 19th century in Russia. Towards the turn of the 20th century, it became more of a folk instrument, a trend further exaggerated by the cultural demands of the Russian revolution which repurposed both instruments and musicians to vernacular ends for songs and marches to raise the spirits. However, a renaissance took place in classical guitar composition following the triumphant tour of Andres Segovia across Soviet Russia in 1926.
The impact of that event may be felt not only in the work of Boris Asafiev, who saw Segovia play, but even two generations later in the Hispanic flair of Edison Denisov's Sonata, with its edgy opening Toccata, gently swaying Berceuse and picture-postcard 'Souvenir d'Espagne'; in itself this revives the kind of naturalistic love-affair of Russian artists with the country that had produced Glinka's Jota aragonesa and Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol.
But there is much more here than picture-postcard imitation and love in a cold climate. Local Georgian rhythms and traditions may be savoured in the sonata of Gherman Dzhaparidze; there are two early, vibrant miniatures of Sofia Gudaidulina; the work of more guitar-specialised composers such as Vitaly Kharisov, Valeri Kikta and Viktor Kozlov is much less well-known outside their native land.
To all of them Cristiano Porqueddu brings the technical mastery and interpretative conviction which has distinguished his work for Brilliant Classics, in boxes such as the set of 20th-century guitar sonatas (BC9455) which includes an earlier recording of the First Sonata by Evgeny Baev.
Although one would not automatically associate the guitar with Russia, the history of the Russian guitar goes far back, as early as 1790 the tradition starts with a 7-string instrument, continuing to flourish in the 19th century as a salon instrument, and gaining the status of a serious concert instrument in the 20th century.
This 4CD set offers a fascinating musical journey presenting known and lesser known composers Asafiev, Baev, Dzhaparidze, Denisov, Ivanov-Kramskoi, Kharisov, Gubaidulina, Kikta, Kozlov, Poplyanova, Rudnev.
Another innovating and stimulating issue by great Italian guitarist Cristiano Porqueddu, who already issued more than 50 CD's with Brilliant Classics covering a vast amount of great and neglected guitar repertoire.
The excellent and extensive liner notes are written by renowned guitarist Oleg Timofeyev.
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