Manuel Blasco De Nebra / Piquero - Complete Piano Works [CD]

Classical Spanish sonatas in the mould of Scarlatti, infused with colour and drama by a native pianist. Born in Madrid in 1750, Manuel Blasco de Nebra died at the age of 34. He wrote around 170 keyboard works, only 30 of which survive. Some were published in his lifetime. Others are preserved in manuscript in the monasteries of Montserrat and La Encarnacion (Osuna), amounting to twenty-four sonatas and six pastorelas. The sonatas are all one- or two-movement works, quick pieces with or without a slow introduction. Pablo Piquero compares this music to innovative pop albums of our own time, 'albums that have taken a decisive step forwards, but which nobody has followed; albums with no sequels. Blasco breaks a new path in Spain, like Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach in Germany, but it has no continuity. He sets out as a precursor to the Sturm und Drang movement, a pre-Romantic, astonishingly original for his time.' Piquero made these recordings - the only complete survey of Blasco de Nebra's keyboard music in 2008-2010. They are reissued in a single set for the first time with the present issue, accompanied by an essay on the life and work of the composer by the scholar Roberto Montes. The pianist's efforts on behalf of Blasco de Nebra have elicited enthusiastic praise from international critics. The Melomano reviewer remarked: 'This young musician surpasses himself, not least in the bipartite form of each sonata, evoking a contrast between the meditative calm of the slow first movement and the gentle revelry of the second. Piquero caresses the piano with the same humility with which Manuel Blasco de Nebra imbued these intimate pieces, apparently ethereal in texture, fragile or delicate, yet well-constructed. He plays with intuitive and unpretentious subtlety, and conjures up, as if through a time-machine, the worlds of Mompou, Debussy, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven or Clementi.' - Manuel Blasco de Nebra was a Spanish composer and virtuoso pianist whose keyboard music remains a hidden gem of the Classical era. Born in Seville, Blasco de Nebra was deeply influenced by the rich musical heritage of Spain, blending it's lyrical and expressive traditions with the emerging classical styles of the late 18th century. His surviving piano works, though limited in number, show a combination of technical brilliance, harmonic sophistication, and emotional depth. These compositions, primarily intended for harpsichord or fortepiano, consist of sonatas and pastorellas. They are characterized by elegant melodic lines, intricate ornamentation, and an innovative use of texture that foreshadowed Romantic tendencies. - Blasco de Nebra's music often features sudden dynamic contrasts, suspensions, and a poignant lyrical quality, reflecting the influence of Domenico Scarlatti and the Spanish folk tradition. The Sonatas are especially notable for their emotional range, moving seamlessly between introspection and exuberance. Meanwhile, the Pastorellas, with their pastoral character and light-hearted charm, offer a glimpse into his ability to create vivid and evocative atmospheres. - Although he passed away tragically young, Blasco de Nebra's work provides a valuable bridge between the Baroque and Classical eras, with a distinctively Spanish flavor. - Played with intense concentration, eloquence and charm by Spanish pianist Pedro Piquero. Born in Seville in 1976, he received his musical training in Spain with Esteban Sanchez and in the United States with Caio Pagano. The pianist Maria Joao Pires invited him in in 2002 to reside in the Belgais Center for Arts in Portugal. He has won several awards and the following has been written of him: «Piquero exceeds himself... a glorious blend of Glenn Gould and Carlos Kleiber» (Melomano); «this is a genuine recording landmark... The very highest quality» (El Pais). Pedro Piquero is also a Soto Zen Buddhist monk, disciple of the Japanese Master Gudo Wafu Nishijima.

Tracklist:

1. Keyboard Sonata 107 in G major
2. Keyboard Sonata 108 in E minor
3. Keyboard Sonata 109 in A minor
4. Keyboard Sonata 110 in D major
5. Keyboard Sonata 111 in A major
6. Keyboard Sonata 112 in C minor
7. Pastorela No. 1 in G major~Adagio
8. Pastorela No. 1 in G major~Pastorela
9. Pastorela No. 1 in G major~Minuet
10. Pastorela No. 2 in F major~Adagio
11. Pastorela No. 2 in F major~Pastorela
12. Pastorela No. 2 in F major~Minuet
13. Pastorela No. 3 in A minor~Adagio
14. Pastorela No. 3 in A minor~Pastorela
15. Pastorela No. 3 in A minor~ Minuet
16. Pastorela No. 4 in B minor~Adagio
17. Pastorela No. 4 in B minor~Pastorela
18. Pastorela No. 4 in B minor~Minuet
19. Pastorela No. 5 in C major~Adagio
20. Pastorela No. 5 in C major~Pastorela
21. Pastorela No. 5 in C major~Minuet
22. Pastorela No. 6 in E minor~Adagio
23. Pastorela No. 6 in E minor~Pastorela
24. Pastorela No. 6 in E minor~Minuet
25. Piano Sonata No. 1 in A major~Adagio
26. Piano Sonata No. 1 in A major~Allegro
27. Piano Sonata No. 2 in C minor~Adagio
28. Piano Sonata No. 2 in C minor~Allegro
29. Piano Sonata No. 3 in D major~Adagio
30. Piano Sonata No. 3 in D major~Allegro
31. Piano Sonata No. 4 in C major~Adagio
32. Piano Sonata No. 4 in C major~Allegro
33. Piano Sonata No. 5 in D minor~Adagio
34. Piano Sonata No. 5 in D minor~Allegro
35. Piano Sonata No. 6 in E minor~Adagio
36. Piano Sonata No. 6 in E minor~Allegro
37. Piano Sonata No. 7 in F major~Adagio
38. Piano Sonata No. 7 in F major~Allegro
39. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C major~Andante
40. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C major~Allegro moderato
41. Piano Sonata No. 9 in A minor. Allegro
42. Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major~Adagio
43. Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major~Allegro
44. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 1 in C minor. Adagio
45. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 1 in C minor. Allegro
46. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 2 in B flat major. Adagio
47. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 2 in B flat major. Allegro
48. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 3 in A major. Adagio
49. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 3 in A major. Allegro molto
50. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 4 in G minor. Adagio
51. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 4 in G minor. Allegro molto
52. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 5 in F sharp minor. Adagio
53. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 5 in F sharp minor. Presto
54. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 6 in E major. Adagio
55. 6 Sonatas for Harpsichord and Pianoforte Op. 1~Sonata No. 6 in E major. Presto
56. Sonatas for keyboard (del manuscrito 2998 de la abadia de Montserrat)~Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major. Allegro
57. Sonatas for keyboard (del manuscrito 2998 de la abadia de Montserrat)~Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major. Allegro

UPC: 5029365103244
Label: PIANO CLASSICS
Release Date: 5.2.25
Format: CD