Manén, Gerhard & Montsalvatge: Works for Cello & Piano Guillermo Pastrana & Daniel Blanch

• Joan Manén (1883 - 1971): Sonata di concerto, Op. A-42:
• 1 Sonata di concerto, Op. A-42: I. Adagio - Allegro energico 11:34
• 2 Sonata di concerto, Op. A-42: II. Andantino amabile 05:56
• 3 Sonata di concerto, Op. A-42: III. Allegro ritmico e giusto 08:09
• Roberto Gerhard (1896 - 1970): Sonata (Version for Cello & Piano):
• 4 Sonata (Version for Cello & Piano): I. Allegro molto energico 06:00
• 5 Sonata (Version for Cello & Piano): II. Grave 05:17
• 6 Sonata (Version for Cello & Piano): III. Molto vivace 04:07
• Xavier Montsalvatge (1912 - 2002): Sonata concertante:
• 7 Sonata concertante: I. Vigoroso 05:40
• 8 Sonata concertante: II. Moderato sostenuto 06:10
• 9 Sonata concertante: III. Scherzo 03:58
• 10 Sonata concertante: IV. Rondo. Allegro 02:04
• Total Runtime 58:55

Info for Manén, Gerhard & Montsalvatge: Works for Cello & Piano

At the beginning of the 20th century in Catalunya, several approaches to music lived side by side, some succeeding and overlapping each other: a German-influenced post-romanticism, of Wagnerian tradition; a Spanish nationalism, promoted by Felip Pedrell; and a “novecentist” style which sought to reconnect with the truest traditional roots, crystallizing into a language of great originality. All these aesthetic approaches co-existed naturally and became entwined in the works of composers whose language was constantly evolving. Within this musical context, the artistic lives began of three important Catalan composers of three consecutive generations: Joan Manén (1883-1971), Robert Gerhard (1896-1970) and Xavier Montsalvatge (1912 -2002): composers whose extensive output has been performed and received international recognition, and who set out to find their own personal voice from the starting points of different musical styles. All three composed sonatas for cello and piano – works which depart from Spanish traditional music and look to Europe, assimilating the stylistic influences that most suited their contrasting sensibilities and thus making an authentic and original contribution to 20th century musical composition.

Guillermo Pastrana, cello
Daniel Blanch, piano

Guillermo Pastrana
From a very early age, Guillermo Pastrana showed a deep love for music and very particularly for the cello as the most suitable means of expressing his emotions. During his period of training, he was a student of Jan Halsdorf, Gustave Rivimius and Ivan Monighetti. He started an intensive performing career when at a young age, giving recitals and concerts as a soloist in concert halls and international festivals. He has been praised by critics, the public and the great professionals with whom he has worked in his career, all of whom make special mention of his technique, the quality of his sound and the unique charisma he displays during his performances. After the resounding success of the first performance of the Concerto nº 1 by David del Puerto, he has gained his place among the most influential Spanish performers. He has had great success as a soloist with the majority of Spanish orchestras and has played with the Medellín Philharmonia, the Chile Symphony, and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory orchestra of Moscow, among others. Pastrana complements his performing activities with teaching, and he maintains a close collaboration with new Spanish composers, who have responded by dedicating their works to him. In 2014, he received the Ojo Crítico de Música Clásica 2014 (Critical Eye for Classical), for “the quality of his sound and the strength of his artistic personality.

Daniel Blanch
As a versatile, sensitive, creative musician committed to recovering the musical heritage of his country, Daniel Blanch has been able to intelligently follow a solid career as a pianist, both as soloist and in the field of chamber music, for more than twenty years. Since his début in the Palau de la Música de Barcelona in 1999, he has participated in numerous cycles and festivals, performing in concert halls such as the Brahms Saal of the Musikverein of Vienna, the Auditori de Barcelona or the Witold Lutoslawski Hall in Warsaw. He has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Sinfonia Varsovia, the Cuban National Symphony, the Podlasie Philharmonic and Prague Chamber. Having trained with great maestros such as Maria Canals, Maria Tipo, Brigitte Engerer and Alicia de Larrocha, Daniel Blanch has made sixteen recordings on disc, notably CDs of concerts for piano and orchestra by Spanish composers such as Nin-Culmell, Montsalvatge, Suriñach, Blancafort, and Ricard Lamote de Grignon. Since 2002, he has been part of a stable duo with violinist Kalina Macuta, with whom he has recorded five CDs, two of which are dedicated to the complete works for violin and piano of Joan Manén.

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