Leading pianists like Liszt, Von Bülow, and Paderewski recognized Cervantes's virtuosity, calling him a 'colossus of the piano'.
Performer Biography
Álvaro Cendoya, the pianist on this recording, won the prize for best interpretation of Spanish music at the international Premio Jaén competition in 1989.
Composer Biography
Ignacio Cervantes, a key figure in Latin American piano music, was praised by American pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk at age six and composed his first work at ten.
Composer Biography
Cervantes studied at the Paris Conservatoire, winning first prize in piano in 1866 and first prize in harmony, fugue, and counterpoint in 1868.
Historical Context
Cervantes was exiled twice from Cuba due to his involvement with independence movements, using concert tours in the US and Mexico to raise funds for the cause.
Composition History
Ignacio Cervantes's Danzas cubanas for piano are the best-known works in his catalogue, despite his compositions also including orchestral and stage works.
Compositional Technique
The Danzas cubanas often feature typical Cuban rhythms like the tango or habanera rhythm and the five-note cinquillo cubano.
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