Cristiano Porqueddu - Novecento Guitar Variations (2026)

Tracklist

01. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: I. Theme Menuet (Op. 24 No. 1)
02. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: II. Var. 1 Marcia (Pensando a Beethoven)
03. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: III. Var. 2 Sonatinetta (Pensando a Clementi)
04. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: IV. Var. 3 Ländler (Pensando a Schubert)
05. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: V. Var. 4 Etude I (Pensando a Schumann)
06. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: Vi. Var. 5 Nocturne (Pensando a Chopin)
07. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: VII. Var. 6 Canon (Pensando a Klengel)
08. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: VIII. Var. 7 Etude II (Pensando a Schumann)
09. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: IX. Var. 8 Ballade (Pensando a Brahms)
10. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: X. Var. 9 Scherzo (Pensando a Berlioz)
11. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: XI. Var. 10 Marche Funèbre (Pensando a Wagner)
12. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: XII. Var. 11 Berceuse (Pensando a Fauré)
13. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: XIII. Var. 12 Prelude (Pensando a Scriabin)
14. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: XIV. Var. 13 Intermezzo (Pensando a Schönberg)
15. Variations on a Theme by Fernando Sor - Variazioni Attraverso L'ottocento: XV. Var. 14 Fugue (Pensando a Busoni)
16. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): I. Prologo
17. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): II. Del Sentire
18. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): III. Estrema Ratio
19. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): IV. Berceuse
20. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): V. Burlesco
21. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): Vi. Grenzsituationen
22. Il Silenzio Del Pendolo (Omaggio Ad Alessandro Bianchi): VII. Epilogo (Tema)
23. Metamorfosis De La Soledad (Su Uno Studio Di Angelo Gilardino)
24. Lento with Variation
25. Theme with Variations and Finale After Tchaikovsky
26. Theme and Variations
27. Raighínas
28. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: I. Theme
29. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: II. Var. 1 Risoluto
30. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: III. Var. 2 Molto Lirico
31. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: IV. Var. 3 Vivo E Con Forza
32. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: V. Var. 4 Adagio
33. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: Vi. Var. 5 Con Bravura
34. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: VII. Var. 6 Con Delicatezza
35. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song: VIII. Var. 7 Finale
36. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): I. Lento E Pensoso
37. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): II. Risoluto, Ma Non Troppo Mosso
38. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): III. Andantino Scorrevole E Sommesso
39. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): IV. Allegro Non Troppo, Ma Assai Energico
40. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): V. Andantino Appena Mosso
41. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): Vi. Allegretto
42. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): VII. Andante Piuttosto Lento
43. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): VIII. Agitato
44. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): IX. Non Troppo Lento, Con Forte Scansione
45. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): X. Rapido E Lieve
46. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): XI. Mosso, Legato
47. Variazioni Sulla Follia (Studi da Francisco Goya): XII. Liberamente, Come Preludiando
48. Theme and Variations
49. Variazioni Sulla Follia
50. Theme Et Variations
51. 10 Variations on an Armenian Theme
52. Comme Des Variations
53. Di Tante Lagrime - Omaggio a Francisco Tárrega
54. Mozartiana No. 1: I. Tema - Andantino Semplice
55. Mozartiana No. 1: II. Var. 1 Burlesco
56. Mozartiana No. 1: III. Var. 2 Agile
57. Mozartiana No. 1: IV. Var. 3 Grazioso
58. Mozartiana No. 1: V. Var. 4 Dolce E Cullante
59. Mozartiana No. 1: Vi. Var. 5 Come Un Mormorio
60. Mozartiana No. 1: VII. Var. 6 Risoluto
61. Mozartiana No. 1: VIII. Var. 7 Agitato
62. Mozartiana No. 1: IX. Var. 8 Reverie
63. Mozartiana No. 1: X. Var. 9 Allegro Vorticoso
64. Variants on 2 Themes of Bach
65. Variazioni Su El Testament D'amelia Di Llobet

The dazzling Sardinian guitarist returns to the studios for a breathtaking compendium of variation sets, many of them never recorded before, by many of the most enduring names in guitar composition of the last century.
Through the course of his long partnership with Brilliant Classics, Cristiano Porqueddu has attracted superlatives and enthusiasm from all corners of the critical press and listeners everywhere. there’s no denying the ability of Cristiano Porqueddu,’ wrote David Hurwitz in Classics Today, citing the guitarist’s ‘rich sound and dexterous handling of his instrument.’ His colleague Jed Distler noted that Porqueddu’s ‘nuanced articulation allows him to sustain and spin out legato lines as if his fingers had bows.’
Porqueddu’s collection of 20th-century variation sets surveys a kaleidoscopic variety of styles and idioms, demonstrating in the process the guitarist’s own breadth of vision as well as his virtuosic technique and insightful musicianship. He begins with a monster of the form: the 45-minute sequence of variations on a theme of Fernando Sor, by the US composer Mark Delpriora. Musician and listener are taken on an astonishing tour de force of invention, as Sor’s melancholy tune becomes the raw text for vivid pastiches and parodies in the style of canon composers from Beethoven through to Schoenberg and Busoni.
Characteristically, set the challenge to ‘follow that’, Porqueddu does just that, with a work of his own, which takes its inspiration from Foucault’s Pendulum. On the following discs, the withdrawn, lyrical chromaticism presents a compelling contrast with both the Russian romanticism of Boris Asafiev preceding him, and the implacable shadows of the Raighines by Ermanno Brignolo.
This last work was composed for Porqueddu himself, while John Duarte’s Variations on a Catalan Folksong were composed in 1956 at the suggestion of John Williams; and it is in this distinguished lineage that Porqueddu belongs. Some of the following works inspire wonder at their intricacy (both executive and compositional), such as the interwoven Variants on Two Themes of Bach by Reginald Smith-Brindle, while others major on charm, such as the first set of Mozartiana composed by Porqueddu’s teacher, Angelo Gilardino. There’s something for everyone.

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