The Hall of Mirrors at Valladolid’s Teatro Calderón was the venue chosen yesterday for the launch of Guillermo Hernández Barrocal’s debut album, The Romantic Piano, at an event attended by the Mayor of Valladolid, Óscar Puente.
The piano chosen for the occasion was a Yamaha CFX-series concert grand recently donated by Fundos to Valladolid City Council, premiered and signed on 21 May 1984 by the renowned Valladolid piano duo Frechilla-Zuloaga.
Winner last May of First Prize at the 3rd Estepona International Young Performers Competition (adding to awards at national and international competitions such as the César Franck Competition in Brussels and the Pernik International Piano Competition in Bulgaria, among many others), Guillermo Hernández Barrocal has chosen for his debut album three great works of the Romantic piano repertoire by three contemporaries: Franz Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody, Robert Schumann’s Carnaval and Chopin’s Fantasy in F minor.
“Romanticism is, for any artist, a splendid era — a great summit of the arts. It is the one I identify with most. When I explore Romantic music, I realise that my impressions are different with every performance: new, fresh sensations. Small nuances that make the difference between what is correct and what is truly beautiful”, says Guillermo.
The album was recorded for the PlayClassics label, and throughout the process Guillermo had the support of his teacher, Russian pianist Andrey Yaroshinsky.
“I have one goal when I perform a piece: to convey rigour and discipline and, at the same time, naturalness, beauty and my own feelings as I play. Two very different sides of an artist that must be present in perfect balance”, the young pianist explains.
The album, titled The Romantic Piano, features works by Liszt, Schumann and Chopin.
Listen to the full album on
Playclassics
Spotify
Itunes
Amazon
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Rhapsodie Espagnole, S. 254.
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Carnaval, Op. 9:
– I. Préambule.
– II. Pierrot.
– III. Arlequin.
– IV. Valse noble.
– V. Eusebius.
– VI. Florestan.
– VII. Coquette.
– VIII. Réplique.
– IX. Papillons.
– X. Lettres dansantes.
– XI. Chiarina.
– XII. Chopin.
– XIII. Estrella.
– XIV. Reconnaissance.
– XV. Pantalon et Colombine.
– XVI. Valse allemande – Intermezzo Paganini.
– XVII. Aveu.
– XVIII. Promenade.
– XIX. Pause.
– XX. Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins.
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49.
Guillermo Hernández Barrocal, piano.
Musicstry Studios. TRT® sound (calibration 2.4). Recorded: 22–23 February and 15 March 2021. Notes: Guillermo Hernández Barrocal. Producer: Mario Martínez. PC21001 ℗ & © 2021 Play Classics.
