Thomas Tirino, the performer on this album, has arranged Lecuona's works to emulate the feel and character of Afro-Cubanism of the period, rather than creating flashy contemporary arrangements.
Composer Biography
Ernesto Lecuona, born in Guanabacoa, Cuba, showed extraordinary talent from a young age, composing his first piano piece at eleven and his first song at eighteen.
Performer Biography
Thomas Tirino is recognized as a leading authority and one of the finest interpreters of Ernesto Lecuona's music, having unearthed many forgotten manuscripts and researched the composer's unique performing style.
Recording & Production
This recording completes the collection of Lecuona's known Afro-Cuban danzas and nearly all his vocal and piano Danzas Cubanas.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Lecuona, sometimes called the 'Cuban Gershwin,' blended classical and popular music to create a unique hybrid of works, incorporating Spanish, Central European, and Afro-Cuban influences.
Composer Biography
Lecuona was a prolific composer, writing over 400 songs, 53 theatrical works (including an opera), and music for eleven films, in addition to numerous solo, chamber, and orchestral pieces.
Critical Reception
Time magazine chose Volume 1 of Thomas Tirino's Lecuona series as one of the ten best recordings of 1995 across all musical categories, exclaiming 'Fingers Ablaze' about his playing.
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