OUR LATEST RELEASES: 82294 LA MÚSICA DE CUBA € VOLUME IV BOBBY JIMÉNEZ, baritone and BIBIANA BORROTO, guitar A collection of favorite Cuban songs including: En cualquier tiempo, La Bayamesa, Total, Perla Marina, El Manisero, Dos gardenias, Corazón, Mercedes, and others. INTRODUCING THE ARTISTS: The artists on this recording also represent the best of their generation of Cuban musicians. The name of Bobby Jiménez has long been associated with many of the composers and songs on this disc. He began his distinguished career in his native Havana and, for the past ten years, has continued to bring the beauty of his voice and his inimitable interpretations to audiences in America. The polished artistry of the guitarist and lyricist, Bibiana Borroto, adds to the beauty and authenticity of the music. ABOUT THE MUSIC: This recording, "Alma Cubana" (which translates as the "Soul of Cuba") is the fourth in our series documenting the varied and colorful music of Cuba. It features a collection of classic popular Cuban songs which span not only many decades of music but also gives the listener insight into the complex cultural and musical diversity which, indeed, define the very "Soul of Cuba". Works by early twentieth century conservatory-trained Spanish composers such as Ernesto Lecuona and Jorge Ankermann are joined with more recent additions to the repertoire by the talented younger musicians like César Portillo de la Luz and Andrés Alen. Songs documenting important influence of African heritage in Cuban music are included, as well as ballads and music with a nationalistic flavor. 82298 TAILLEFERRE € POULENC € SNYDER MARK CLINTON and NICOLE NARBONI, duo-pianists Tailleferre: Concerto Grosso for Two Pianos Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos Snyder: "Double" INTRODUCING THE ARTISTS: The Clinton-Narboni duo has been praised for their "tremendous lyricism and show-stopping virtuosity." With pianistic backgrounds that extend from childhood, Mark Clinton and Nicole Narboni bring a broad range of musical experience to the keyboard. The young husband and wife team has been collaborating at the keyboard since 1986 when they met as colleagues in the at the studio of famed artist-teacher John Perry. They impart a fresh, musical interpretation to a wide spectrum of works from both the two piano and the piano four hand literature. Audiences enthusiastically respond to Clinton and Narboni's brilliant concert performances, which reflect an extraordinary sense of shared ideas and artistic commitment. Clinton and Narboni have received stellar reviews for their recital performances in such cities as Houston, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio. Their critically acclaimed appearances at the prestigious Aspen Institute introduced them to distinguished international audiences. They have captured top prizes on the 1994 ProPiano New York Recital Series, the 1995 NFMC Ellis Competition for Duo Pianists, and the 1996 Concorso International Carlo Soliva. They received the Alvin Perlman Prize at the Fifth Murray Dranoff International Piano Competition for their performance of Six Variations for Two Pianos by Ned Rorem. In 1995, Mark Clinton and Nicole Narboni were appointed to the piano faculty of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. ABOUT THE MUSIC: When the success of her Overture for Orchestra prompted Pierre Monteux to commission another work, Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) chose the unusual combination of two pianos, orchestra, four male and four female voices, and saxophone quartet and named the piece Concerto Grosso. The composer herself was one of the two pianists at the first, and apparently only, public performance of the music which, despite its immediate disappearance from the concert stage, was nonetheless highly praised at the time of its debut in 1934. This release marks the world premiere recording of the Concerto. The name and the music of Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) are much better known today than that of his contemporary and compatriot Germaine Tailleferre even though Jean Cocteau selected both as members of the group of the musical elite of Paris known as Les Six. Although as a group, they had few occasions for actual collaboration, they were bound together by the sunny disposition of their music and friendships which endured for more than 35 years. The third selection on this CD, Double, was composed for this recording by Randall Snyder (b. 1941) and commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Schubert. It is dedicated to Mark Clinton and Nicole Narboni, colleagues of Dr. Snyder at the University of Nebraska. This recording is the second to be released by ÉLAN featuring the prize winning young artists Mark Clinton and Nicole Narboni. Their debut disc, The Complete Works for Two Pianos by Germaine Tailleferre (ÉLAN 82278), was highly praised by critics both here and abroad and had the distinction of being selected "Editor's Choice" in the 1997 November issue of Gramophone magazine which declared it "...an irresistibly joyous disc!".