Malagueña
Piano Music from Cuba and the Philippines
Adolovni Acosta, piano

Often described as the George Gershwin of Cuba, Ernesto Lecuona composed music of a more serious type, based on the popular idiom. Ravel commented "Malagueña is more beautiful and melodic than my Bolero." Lecuona was credited with bringing the rumba and conga rhythms to North America and his charming songs Malagueña and Andalucía were hits under their English titles, "At the Crossroads" and "The Breeze and I".

Complementing the 11 Lecuona compositions are piano works by three Philippine composers who have also written music based on popular or folk melodies.

Pianist Adolovni Acosta has been hailed by the international press for her outstanding musicianship and her keyboard prowess that evokes intensity and grace. In 2006 she was awarded the Philippine Presidential Award. A graduate of Juilliard, she has taught there as well as at New York University and Hunter College.

Catalog: MAR 3121

Track Listing

Ernesto Lecuona 1. Córdoba 2. Andalucía 3. Alhambra 4. Gitanerías 5. Guadalquivir 6. Malagueña 7. Danza Negra 8. Y La Negra Bailaba! 9. Danza de los Ñañigos 10. Danza Lucumi 11. La Camparsa Franscisco Buencamino Sr. 12. No Hablos Mas! 13. Ang Larawan (The Portrait) 14. Maligayang Bati (Birthday Greetings) 15. Mayon (Fantasia de Concierto) Nicanor Abelardo 16. Nasaan Ka Irog (Where are you my love?) (LISTEN) Fransisco Santiago 17. Pakiusap (Plea) 18. Souvenir de Filipinas (Fantasia para Piano) Total playing time: 70:22

The Orion Master Recordings: