Grand Finale: Andrés Segovia Archive

The fourth and final volume in this important series! This new album showcases outstanding performances of works that are fundamental milestones of the guitar repertoire of the 20th century. The genesis for this unique project is a collection of pieces recovered in May 2001 at Segovia’s archive in Spain. These pieces were dedicated to Segovia or commissioned by him, involving composers from eight countries. They were subsequently published as “The Segovia Archive Series” by Edizione Musicale Bèrben. Pérez states: “At the beginning of the 20th century, the way of thinking about music changed. It is within this investigation that the expressive potential of the guitar was ‘rediscovered’. The compelling charisma and virtuosity of Andrés Segovia (1893–1987) helped to stimulate non-­guitarist composers to write music for him, resulting in a significant increase in the instrument’s repertoire. Many of these works were featured in concerts and recordings throughout his career. Additionally, many more languished in the Andrés Segovia Archive, a collection of recently discovered works among Segovia’s private papers which were not made public until some years after his death. It is this collection of barely known, or in some cases, almost totally neglected works that were the focus of my three previous CDs containing pages of musical quality of the highest order. With the intention of closing the circle and providing a more holistic perspective, I felt I should not leave aside those pieces that the Spanish virtuoso chose to perform and record, and which stand as pinnacles of the Segovian repertoire.”

Spanish­-born Roberto Moronn Pérez studied in Madrid, Italy and the UK, graduating with first­-class honours and a degree in Musicology from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He completed a postgraduate program at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, where he received the Julian Bream Prize. A prize­-winner of many international competitions, Roberto has appeared as soloist in Spain, Switzerland, Italy, the USA, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany and Japan, and in concert with numerous Spanish orchestras. Recently, he played the famous Concierto de Aranjuez with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Currently, Roberto is a professor of guitar at the Conservatorio de Madrid.

This new album was recorded in the lovely acoustics of Holy Trinity Church, Weston, Hertfordshire, U.K. It was produced, recorded, edited and mastered by the outstanding U.K. engineer John Taylor.