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“The keyboard sonatas of the Spanish composer Padre Antonio Francisco Javier José Soler y Ramos (1729-1783), written originally for the harpsichord and fortepiano, offer extraordinary opportunities for personal and musical expression on today’s concert grand. In any compilation, these works transcend the brilliance of their varied technical and textural elements, presenting a vivid musical landscape rich in harmonic invention and melodic and rhythmic vitality—often more daring and forward-looking than the sonatas of his mentor, Domenico Scarlatti. This distinctive quality arises from Soler’s intrinsically Spanish idiom and cultural upbringing, inspired by the instruments, melodies, and rhythms unique to his native surroundings and shaped by his singular place in musical history. In recording this album of music originally written for earlier keyboard instruments, I sought to remain attentive to the idiomatic language and performance practices associated with the instruments of Soler’s time, while also embracing the rich tonal palette and expressive possibilities of the 21st-century Steinway & Sons piano. Through this approach, I strived to illuminate the artistic depth and expressive power I have found in this extraordinary and seldom performed music.”
– Gerardo Teissonnière
