FRANCISCO MIGNONE (1897-1986): Piano Concerto, Valsas de Esquina nos. 1 and 5 for Solo Piano, ISAAC ALBÉNIZ (1860-1909): Piano Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 78 “Concierto Fantástico”, Granada and Sevilla from Suite Espagnole for Solo Piano.

Description: The most prominent characteristics of the Brazilian Mignone’s 1958 concerto are a confident and expansive vitality which a listener immediately may associate with American music (meaning from the Americas - the Western Hemisphere) along with a vein of sensuality likely deriving from Brazilian folk music. The first movement has a striding muscularity, the second movement moments of still nocturnal music punctuated by faster sections and, best of all, the last movement has a cheeky, swaggering theme which Henry Mancini could have cooked up for one of those sophisticated comedy films of the late 50s and early 60s. Clélia Iruzun (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Jac van Steen.