Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ CineMedia Promotions) - Aleph Records will release
Sergio Puccini's seventh recording Romerias on
September 14, 2010. The repertoire on the recording includes the world premiere recording of Romerias, a nine movement suite for solo guitar composed by Lalo Schifrin, along with pieces by Astor Piazzolla, Enrique Bevacqua, Alfredo Rugeles, Leo Brouwer, Salim Dada, Manuel de Falla, John Duarte, and Hernan Navarro.
Sergio Puccini was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1958. He began his musical training at 8, at first playing folk, pop and jazz guitar. At 15 he made his classical guitar debut, studying at first in Argentina and then moved to the United States to study at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Puccini has appeared as a soloist with chamber and symphonic orchestras including National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela, Orquesta Nacional de Musica Argentina, San Francisco Carnerata Americana, Mannes Orchestra in New York City, Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela, Symphony of the Americas in Florida, National Symphony of El Salvador, Santa Fe and Rosario Symphony Orchestra (Argentina), Hungarian Virtuosi of Budapest, Czech Moravian Chamber Orchestra, and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Sergio has recorded six previous CDs and is featured in the 5th edition of the book 'The Classical Guitar: its evolution, players and personalities since 1800' by Maurice Summerfield. In December 2006 he was awarded the MUSI Prize in Rosario, Argentina, as the best classical artist of the year. Since 1990 he has served as the Director of the Instituto Provincial del Profesorado de Musica in Rosario City, Argentina, where he takes part in a flute/guitar due with flutist Gabriel Leo.
Astor Piazzolla said of Puccini, 'My music is not so difficult to play but the most important are the accents and the flavor; Mr. Puccini got them and that makes me very happy! Forza Puccini.'
The repertoire on Romerias includes 'Romerias' by Lalo Schifrin, 'Preludio Otonal' by Enrique Bevacqua, 'Tanguitis' by Alfredo Rugeles, 'Nuevos Estudios Sencillos' by Leo Brouwer, 'Ya Qalbi (O! Mon Coeur)' by Salim Dada, 'Libertango' by Astor Piazzolla, 'Homenaje (Le Tombeau de Debussy)' and 'Danza del Molinero' by Manuel de Falla, 'Sua Cosa op. 52' by John Duarte, 'Calle de Las Fraguas' by Hernan Navarro and a bonus track composed by Sergio's 9 year-old daughter Sabina Puccini.
This album features the world premiere recording of the nine movement suite Romerias, composed by Lalo Schifrin. 'I was immediately captivated by his work and started preparing the recording of the whole suite,' said Puccini.
Mr. Schifrin said about his work: 'Romerias in Spanish means carnivals or big parties where there is a display of popular arts, food, and drinks. Romerias for solo guitar is a Suite that reflects that feeling of celebration. It explores the different possibilities of this great instrument within the parameters of classical, popular, and folk elements. At the same time, it also brings out the various potentialities of the guitar technique.'
In addition to composing the title piece, Schifrin's family-owned label, Aleph Records, is releasing the recording. 'I feel myself privileged for Lalo's support of this project and for having been able to record this magnificent Suite in its premier.'
Sergio Puccini Romerias will be released by Aleph Records on September 14, 2010. The recording is the first to be released as part of the label's new distribution deal with Allegro Media Group.