GIULIO REGONDI (1822-1872) & JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ (1806-1856)

Giulio Regondi:

Premier Air Varié, Op.21, Rêverie, Op.19, Étude No.4 (b), Deuxième Air Varié, Op.22

Johann Kaspar Mertz:

From Bardenklänge (Bardic Sounds), Op.13, Polonaise No.1, Polonaise No.2, Polonaise No.3, Polonaise No.4, Polonaise No.5, Polonaise No.6, Polonaise No.7, Rondino

Ricardo Gallén (guitar)

Both Mertz and Regondi carried on the composer-performer tradition of Sor and Giuliani a generation before. Both found inspiration in the piano music of Chopin, Mendelssohn and Schumann, and adapted elements of their music into their own creative processes. Although Regondi composed dozens of works for concertina, his extant original guitar writings number just fifteen, all firmly within the Romantic genre (Volume 1 is available on Naxos 8554191).

Johann Kaspar Mertz established himself as a composer-performer in Vienna around 1840, forging a new repertoire which differed significantly from the classical and bel canto styles of his predecessors. Bardenklänge (literally ‘Bardic Sounds’), is an immense work containing nearly thirty pieces of wide variety. Nineteen other pieces from the same collection can be heard on Naxos 8554556.

The soloist on this new release is Riccardo Gallén, whose Naxos debut for the Laureate Series (8554832) met with warm critical praise: “Gallén's playing is impressive and his interpretations sure-footed, evidence of a compelling new musical voice on the guitar scene.” American Record Guide. His 2003 recording of Rodrigo’s Concierto di Aranjuez has sold well over 12,000 units since its release.

Naxos 8555285