New Worlds Javier Laso

• Frederic Mompou (1893 - 1987): Variations on a Theme of Chopin:
• 1 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Thème. Andantino 01:04
• 2 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. I. Tranquillo e molto amabile 01:09
• 3 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. II. Gracioso 00:48
• 4 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. III. Para la mano izquierda. Lento 01:14
• 5 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. IV. Espressivo 01:52
• 6 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. V. Tempo di Mazurka 01:03
• 7 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. VI. Recitativo 02:01
• 8 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. VII. Allegro leggiero 00:55
• 9 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. VIII. Andante dolce e espressivo 02:35
• 10 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. IX. Valse 02:01
• 11 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. X. Évocation. Cantabile molto espressivo 03:05
• 12 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. XI. Lento dolce e legato 02:09
• 13 Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin: Var. XII. Galope y Epílogo 03:59
• Alban Berg (1885 - 1935): Piano Sonata, Op. 1:
• 14 Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1 14:00
• Manuel de Falla (1876 - 1946): Fantasía Baetica:
• 15 de Falla: Fantasía Baetica 13:32
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945): Piano Sonata, Sz. 80:
• 16 Bartók: Piano Sonata, Sz. 80: I. Allegro moderato 05:19
• 17 Bartók: Piano Sonata, Sz. 80: II. Sostenuto e pesante 05:17
• 18 Bartók: Piano Sonata, Sz. 80: III. Allegro molto 04:03
• Total Runtime 01:06:06

Info for New Worlds

A marvelous voyage through four apparently unrelated worlds, each of them cultivated a new musical landscape in a new century: from Lisztian-Wagnerian Berg’s Sonata op. 1 to Mompou’s Variations on a Theme of Chopin, going through folk-inspired Falla’s Fantasía Baetica and Bartók’s Sonata, Javier Laso gives spellbinding performances that sound fresh, as if heard for the first time.

"There is no doubt that these four works represent four distinct strands of Western music. They are a salutary reminder that Classical music may be harder to pigeonhole than we would first imagine." (John France, musicwebinternational.com)

Javier Laso, piano

Javier Laso
I was born in Fribourg (Switzerland) in 1975 and began my special relationship with music at an early age: my grandmother, Sara Guzmán, was a concert pianist and composer and taught my father to play. I spent my musical childhood practising and improvising with him. It was during those years that I learned the most important lesson: music is something more than the score – it’s a living creature and so needs to undergo constant change.​

​At twelve I gained a place at the Salamanca Conservatory, where I studied piano with Juan José Diego and Jacobo Ponce. With the help of Luis Ángel de Benito and Alejandro Yagüe I also developed my understanding of composition, which resulted in writing my first (and only) piano concerto. It was at this time that I met Almudena Cano, too, and her playing, lectures and advice were to have a decisive influence on my career. I graduated with honours in 1999 and decided to continue my studies at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest.

​I lived in Budapest for five years, studying under the tuition of Rita Wagner and Péter Nagy. Their teaching was invaluable and I knew it would always be with me: they opened up the path to my creativity. It was Ferenc Rados, however, who led me to discover a world in which a combination of spontaneity, improvisation and in-depth comprehension of the score can produce a unique musical experience.

In the last twenty years I’ve given many solo recitals, as well as appearing with chamber ensembles and as an orchestral soloist. I’ve made a number of recordings and currently teach piano at the Tenerife Conservatory, having previously taught at the Salamanca Conservatory.

​With the support of my esteemed friend Josep Colom, I recently made this new album for Eudora Records featuring music by Schubert and Schumann.

Booklet for New Worlds