Release Date: 26 August 2022
Label: Odradek Records
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 0810042704213
Description
Star soprano Sofia Esparza and acclaimed pianist Rinaldo Zhok perform a sumptuous album of art songs by Spanish composer Emilio Arrieta. Coinciding with Arrieta's bicentenary, this recording project is designed to bring together for the first time unpublished musical works, a heritage of essential importance for understanding one of the most acclaimed figures in the history of Spanish music.
The reputation of Emilio Arrieta remains founded on the composition of 'Marina', the zarzuela that later became an opera and which brought him tremendous success both during his life and after his death. However, the recovery of his vocal chamber repertoire allows the listener to perceive an extraordinary artistic quality that fears no comparison with similar works composed by Bellini, Verdi, Bizet or Gounod. Arrieta's vocal chamber output has become an important part of Spain's musical heritage, showing an artistic career that goes far further than his relationship with Queen Isabel II.
Composed between about 1840 and 1886, Arrieta's songs portray his personal and artistic development throughout his entire life. Arrieta managed to approach the continual changes in Spanish society by including new aesthetic models in his works. A fundamental part of this project has been the intense research undertaken, supported by the access to the principal primary sources. This process has brought about an entire revision of Arrietas' chamber music for voice, adding new songs not previously included.
The presence of Sofia Esparza, the soprano from Navarre, with her maturity and flexibility, has been decisive in exploring such a varied and impressive repertoire. Odradek artist Rinaldo Zhok has been at the heart of the project both in terms of research and interpretation. Together they perform world-premiere recordings of Arrieta's exquisite songs.
Tracklisting
Sofia Esparza & Rinaldo Zhok
Nuno Côrte-Real, Ensemble Darcos & Coro Ricercare
Artur Pizarro, Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal, Julia Jones
Jenaer Philharmonie, Simon Gaudenz
Carion Wind Quintet
Johannes Fleischmann
Tony Addison Sextet
Vasco Pimentel Trio
Franco Mezzena & Elena Ballario
