For Albéniz's Sevilla, Xuefei Yang returned to the original piano score to ensure faithfulness to the composer's intent, rather than using overly 'guitaristic' arrangements.
Album & Artwork
The album title, 40 Degrees North, refers to the line of latitude that roughly connects the capital cities of China and Spain.
Performer Biography
Xuefei Yang was the first guitarist from China to study classical guitar in the West.
Cultural Impact
The album is a pioneering project for Xuefei Yang, aiming to establish a classical guitar repertoire for China, similar to Spain's.
Performer Biography
Xuefei Yang signed an exclusive international contract with EMI Classics in 2005, and her debut album 'Romance de Amor' reached gold disc status in Hong Kong.
Compositional Technique
The Butterfly Lovers, a violin concerto by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, merges Chinese traditions with Western musical forms and instruments.
Recording & Production
Xuefei Yang used four different guitars for this recording, including instruments by Jose Ramirez, Greg Smallman and Sons, Ignacio Fleta e Hijos, and Michael Gee.
