Vocal music by Schubert, Bellini and Rossini on guitar

16 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Chamber Music, CLASSICAL: Vocal Music

Details:
64millimetres present guitarist Korina Vougiouka in a new CD: Laceworks. Vocal music by Schubert, Rossini and Bellini is re-shaped for solo guitar and interpreted by Korina Vougiouka in versions which provide the originals with a new dimension.
The lieder and opera excerpts contained herein, stripped of lyrics, elements of dramaturgy and scoring techniques particular to their period, are not simple transcriptions by any means. They are, rather, transmutations which, taking advantage of the inherent nature of the guitar, illuminate harmonic, melodic and stylistic details of the original, weaving a delicate, aery composition â a âlaceworkâ.
The first work in the CD is the well-known Rossiniana no.1, opus 119 by Mauro Giuliani, a renowned guitarist and composer, âThe Paganini of the Guitarâ as he was called in musical circles. Rossiniana no.1 is the first of 6 lengthy compositions of the âmedleyâ type, collectively known as âLe Rossinianeâ (op. 119-124) which Giuliani composed during his residence in Rome (1820-1823), based on musical themes from popular operas by Rossini.
The three-part suite based on Vincenzo Belliniâs âNormaâ, created by the composer Tasos Rosopoulos for Korina Vougiouka, is the second work in the CD and constitutes the most recent indication of Normaâs continuing appeal. The suite uses some well-known musical themes of the opera, including the famous invocation of the âChaste Goddessâ of the Moon (Casta Diva).
The CD is concluded by Tasos Rosopoulosâ transcriptions of seven melodies from Franz Schubertâs âWinter Journeyâ (Winterreise) lieder circle (nos. 1, 2, 8, 12, 20, 22 and 24). Here, Korina Vougioukaâs interpretation manages to vindicate to a great degree the historical prejudice against the guitar as an instrument ill-fitting the deeper musical inspiration, while reminding the rising suitability of Schubertâs programmatic music to the new age of noisy lonelinessâ¦
The âNormaâ and âWinterreiseâ suites are world-premiere recordings, made by Tasos Bakasietas in the âDimitris Mitropoulosâ vestibule of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall. The CD was mastered by Christos Hadzistamou and is accompanied by texts by Kyriakos Loukakos, rendered in English by Nico Graptós. Design and photography by Christos Lialios.


Vougiouka Korina was born in 1976 in Kavala, Greece. In 1994 she graduated from the âNew Conservatoryâ of Thessaloniki taking her guitar diploma with mark excellent and first prize. In 2000 she graduated from the Cologne Music Academy (Hochschuele fuer Musik Koeln-class H.Käppel), taking the diploma âKuenstlerische Instrumental Ausbildungâ with mark excellent, having scholarship from the Greek Scholarships Foundation. In 2002 she graduated from the Music Academy of Basel (class Oscar Ghiglia), taking her postgraduate diploma âKonzert Reifediplomâ, having scholarship from the Onassis Scholarships Organization. She is now a PhD student at the University of Leiden (Holland). Her research is about the early 19th century vocal related guitar repertoire.
She won four first prizes in national Greek guitar competitions. Additionally, she was honoured with the following international prizes:
- First prize in the International Guitar Competition in Volos Guitar Festival. (1992)
- The Prize of the âYamaha Music Foundation of Europeâ in Germany. (1998)
- Second prize in the 2nd Guitar Competition in Re (France). (1999)
- First prize in the competition for flute, guitar and singing in Koblenz (Germany).(2000)
- Second prize in the 28th International Guitar Competition in Gargnano (Italy). (2002)
- Third prize in the 1st Dundee Guitar Competition (Scotland). (2004)

She has performed solo as well as chamber music recitals in Greece, France, Austria, Great Britain, Turkey, Italy, Germany and California. She has also performed as a soloist with orchestras from Greece (including the National Orchestras of Athens and Thessalonica as well as the Kamerata Orchestra of Megaron), Spain (National Orchestra of Malaga, conductor Phil. Entremont), Germany and Hungary.

She is a guitar professor at the Ionian Music University as well as artistic director of the Municipal Music Conservatory of Kavala and the âPapaioannouâ music festival.

People who are interested in Franz Schubert Vincenzo Bellini Gioacchino Rossini should consider this download.