Naxos recently released a CD titled "Song of the Stars" which features choral and instrumental music by Granados and other Spanish composers. I happen to adore the Granados pieces on the CD - they are very beautiful and the story behind the "Cant de les estrells" (Song of the Stars) is really amazing. You can read a little about it here: (But I also have more information on it, so contact me if you're interested.)

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp ... e=8.570533

I love "Cant de les estrells" and the great news is that this CD has been nominated for an Grammy! Congratulations go to Douglas Riva who is the pianist.

I'm adding some more news to this thread:


Our member, Alexander Djordjevic, recently recorded a CD of all late Liszt pieces. I've heard the CD and can tell you that Alexander's playing and interpretation is extremely well done. And I'm not the only one who thinks that, because Gramaphone magazine says the same thing. Here are some quotes from the article:

"Djordjevic brings great subtlety to this well programmed Liszt Disc."

"...Djordjevic's mastery and commitment are never in doubt. Listen to the first Elegie's carefully gauged climaxes, the subtle gradations in tone that help flesh out Nuages gris' sparse textures, the warm legato that embraces Romance oubliée's soft chords, or how the pianist imbues the Bagatelle ohne Tonart's grace notes with a convincing jazzy flair."

"...a fine young pianist."

-Gramophone Magazine (Aug, 2009)

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you can find Alexander's CD here on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Gray-Clouds-Piano ... 753&sr=1-1

I'm adding some more information I just received about the "Song of the Stars" CD:

VOICES OF ASCENSION RECEIVES GRAMMY NOMINATION
FOR SONG OF THE STARS, A RECORDING FEATURING MUSIC
BY CATALAN COMPOSERS PABLO CASALS, ENRIQUE GRANADOS,
ENRIQUE MORERA, MANUEL OLTRA, MANUEL BLANCAFORT
Voices of Ascension released Grammy-nominated Song of the Stars in June 2009.


Described by the Wall Street Journal as "real cause for celebration," Song of the Stars features Cant de les estrelles, a never-recorded work for chorus, piano and organ by Catalan composer Enric (Enrique) Granados. Song of the Stars hit the Billboard classical charts and was described by the Wall Street Journal's Stuart Isacoff as "gorgeous in every way - from the engineering quality to the impeccable performances of both singers and instrumentalists."

Conductor Dennis Keene, Voices of Ascension and organist Mark Kruczek collaborated with pianist and Granados scholar Douglas Riva and Naxos to produce the North American premiere performance and recording of Granados' Cant de les estrelles, Salve Regina, and Escena Religiosa. Cant de les estrelles received its premiere in 1911 at Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana with Granados at the keyboard. The manuscript was never published, and was only recovered in 2004 through the efforts of Mr. Riva and Granados biographer Walter Clark among others. Works by Catalan composers Pablo Casals, Enrique Morera, Manuel Oltra, and Manuel Blancafort complete the recording.

Artistic Director Dennis Keene describes the work as "hauntingly beautiful. We (Voices of Ascension) are thrilled to add Song of the Stars to our repertoire and discography."