About the Recording

This classical guitar recital follows Irina Kulikova’s First Prize at the Alhambra International Guitar Competition in 2008. Although a recording was not part of the prize at the time, she was invited to inaugurate a new recording initiative within the Naxos Laureate Series.

The programme brings together Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major (transcribed for guitar by Irina Kulikova), Fernando Sor’s Fantaisie Op. 30, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Sonata in D major “Omaggio a Boccherini”, José María Gallardo del Rey’s California Suite, and Francisco Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Each work reflects a distinct facet of the classical guitar repertoire, presented within a single recorded statement for the Naxos catalogue.

Official Music Video – Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
(Transcribed for guitar by Irina Kulikova)
1. Prelude
2. Allemande
3. Courante
4. Sarabande
5. Menuets I & II
6. Gigue

Fernando Sor (1778–1839)
Fantaisie, Op. 30
1. Introduction, Theme and Variations
2. Allegretto

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895–1968)
Guitar Sonata in D Major, Op. 77 “Omaggio a Boccherini”
1. Allegro con spirito
2. Andantino, quasi canzone
3. Tempo di minuetto
4. Vivo ed energico

José María Gallardo del Rey (b. 1961)
California Suite
1. Preludio: Andante molto espressivo
2. Allemande
3. Sarabande
4. Vals

Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra

Album notes

“The guitar is ideal for lyrical romanticism, and always has been in its long history. But its clarity and fluency of line also provide scope for contrapuntal complexity characterized in the baroque era by the master works of J.S. Bach.”

Read the complete album commentary by Graham Wade in the official companion booklet via the Naxos Music Library.

Credits

Recorded at St John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada (October 11–14, 2010)

Producers: Norbert Kraft and Bonnie Silver
Audio Engineer & Editor: Norbert Kraft

Booklet Notes: Graham Wade
Cover photograph: Marco Borggreve

Publishers:
Bach: Schott Music Ltd
Sor: everynote.com
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Schott Musik Int.
Gallardo del Rey: Edition Modran
Tárrega: Chanterel

Irina Kulikova plays a 2007 Simon Marty cedar guitar with Savarez Alliance Cantiga strings.

Irina dedicates this album to Wouter Fellendans