Clara Rodriguez - Venezuela (2010)

Tracklist

01. Pajarillo
02. Mañanita Caraqueña
03. Jarro Mocho
04. La Dulzura de Tu Rostro
05. El Porfiao
06. El Atravesado
07. Aliseo
08. Noche de Luna en Altamira
09. Zumba Que Zumba
10. Adriana
11. Diversión
12. Canción
13. Vals Criollo
14. Retrato de Ramón Delgado Palacios
15. Fuga
16. Juangriego
17. Seis Por Derecho
18. Destilado de Vals
19. El Cumaco de San Juan
20. Creo Que Te Quiero
21. Alma Llanera
22. Don Luis
23. Caballo Viejo
24. Viajera del Río
25. El Diablo Suelto

Venezuela, the latest offering by Clara Rodriguez, presents pieces by many of Venezuela s greatest composers past and present and provides an invaluable insight into the rich diversity of the classical music catalogue of her homeland. This is infectious, heart warming, passionate music that lifts the spirits and makes you want to smile, as Rodriguez herself says in the liner notes, it is sunny music. Rodriguez carries us away on a musical journey to the vibrant Venezuelan landscape as we savor the delights of the waltz, the joropo and the merengue. Her performances are audacious and passionate as she rises to the challenge of what are at times extremely technically-demanding pieces not least the relentless joropos but her interpretations are not without grace and charm. Creo que te quiero and Viajera del rio, for example, are much more lyrical and moody in their expression, and provide beautiful contrast to the main body of work on the CD. Antonio Lauro is a personal favourite of mine and the three Lauro tracks on the CD are simply exquisite; and how refreshing to hear these staple guitar pieces transcribed onto the piano. Venezuela allows Rodriguez to combine her technical mastery of the piano with discerning interpretations born from her Venezuelan background, and this CD firmly establishes her as the pre-eminent exponent of Venezuelan piano music on the world stage.

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