Spanish composer Enrique Granados (1867–1916) never wrote any music for the guitar, yet a number of his works have become core pieces of the classical-guitar repertoire, including this one, from his 12-part Danzas Española, written on piano in 1890, when he was just 23 years old.
This marvelous version of “No. 11: Zambra” (a Spanish Gypsy dance) comes from the Duarte-Salazar Duo—Mariana Duarte (Portugal) and Emerson Salazar (Chile), who met in Austria in 2007 when both were attending the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, studying under Eliot Fisk and Ricardo Gallén. They have been performing as a duo (in addition to solo appearances) since 2011. This piece is one of two from Granados’ Danzas Española that appear on their superb new CD, Danzas de Fuego (the other is “No. 6: Rondalla Aragonesa”). Also on the album is Astor Piazzolla’s Tango Suite, Alberto Ginastera’s Tres Danzas Argentinas, and six “Danzas” by Manuel de Falla. The Ginastera and half of the Falla pieces are the duo’s own arrangements.
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The CD was recorded in Santiago, Chile, with the duo using guitars built by Stephan Connor (who wrote an article for the latest issue of Classical Guitar about building a pair of guitars in Granada, Spain). I highly recommend the disc! —Blair Jackson
