Joaquín Turina (1882-1949) was born in Sevilla, Spain, where he received his first music lessons. He studied in Madrid from 1902 and settled in Paris from 1905 to 1913, where he took composition lessons from Vincent d’Indy at his Schola Cantorum de Paris, while studying the piano with Moritz Moszkowski. Inevitably he came into contact with Debussy and Ravel, and his early compositions were clearly influenced by the Impressionists. However he returned to his native Spain and developed his own style in which the rich folklore, folk music and atmosphere of Spain is predominant. Together with Albéniz, Granados and De Falla he established the Spanish Nationalist School.

This new recording presents a selection of Turina’s piano works: Sevilla- Suite pintoresca Op. 2, 5 Danzas Gitanas Op. 55, and Danzas Fantásticas Op. 22, music of great originality, written in an advanced harmonic idiom, “Spanish” without the commonplace postcard sentimentality.

Played with intense concentration, eloquence and charm by Spanish pianist Pedro Piquero. Born in Seville in 1976, he received his musical training in Spain with Esteban Sánchez and in the United States with Caio Pagano. The pianist Maria João Pires invited him in in 2002 to reside in the Belgais Center for Arts in Portugal. He has won several awards and the following has been written of him: «Piquero exceeds himself … a glorious blend of Glenn Gould and Carlos Kleiber» (Melómano); «this is a genuine recording landmark … the very highest quality» (El País). Pedro Piquero is also a Soto Zen Buddhist monk, disciple of the Japanese Master Gudō Wafu Nishijima.