Lecuona: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 3

Kudos for Tirino!:
This 3rd volume in a series of 5 CDs by pianist Tirino is a veritable treasure, not only due to the master pianist's astounding technical proficiency, but also due to his bravura decision to include a selection of Lecuona's most famous (and demanding) pieces. Pianist Tirino has single-handedly caused an international re-birth and re-discovery of my great-uncle Ernesto's musical works. Devoting a significant number of his life to researching, compiling, transcribing, recording, and performing Lecuona's music, Thomas Tirino's execution of the composer's danzas on this CD illustrates why our family recognizes him, among all post-Lecuona interpreters, as the standard bearer of the composer's music. Tirino's musical prowess shines throughout the valses and contradanzas included in Vol. 3. To listen to this recording is to return nostalgically to those idyllic nights I spent as a youngster in Cuba, listening to my uncle Ernesto perform his pieces at either his farm outside Havana or during his frequent concerts at Havana's theaters, such as the Teatro Payret or Marti. Astounding in his affinity to capture the "zandunga" or flavor in Lecuona's arpeggios and rhythmic nuances, Tirino clearly demonstrates why I, along with the remaining members of the Lecuona family, consider him to be the most representative interpreter of this great body of work. This volume is also important because it introduces and illustrates a side of the Lecuona repertoire not generally known to pianists outside of Cuba and Spain. This CD should be considered a "must" buy for both the serious student of Lecuona music as well as the casual fan of his great repertoire.

AN AUTHORITY ON LECUONA FROM ANOTHER AUTHORITY:
The best review I can offer on this disc cannot be contained in my own words. I could quote from many approving and enthusiastic REAL critics from all over the world, but instead I will quote from someone who knew Maestro Lecuona all of his life. Among many handwritten letters and dedicated pictures from Lecuona to this individual, Lecuona states in one of them: "To Manolo Lamas, who has a musical spirit very few possess". Maestro Lamas, possibly Lecuona's best musical friend during his lifetime, (in fact-Lecuona was his godfather) INTIMATELY and EXPERTLY knows the maestro's music. This authority has personally told me that Thomas Tirino is the BEST current living interpreter of the music of Lecuona that he knows. In fact, he says that on many occasions you cannot tell them apart. I suggest that you compare the different interpreters. I'm certain you'll agree-and beyond that, you'll profoundly enjoy and be dazzlingly enchanted by the pianistic talent of this wonderful concert artist. One can SENSE, above everything else, the love with which Tirino plays Lecuona's music. ....

"The real thing" Lecuona Reincarnated:
This is one of my favorite recording of ALL TIME. Torino's sound is beautiful and his playing shows great skill and total command of the style found in this music. Anyone who says it otherwise is ignorant. Torino is the real Reincarnation of Lecuona. The edit notes on his recording are transcriped from Lecuona's own recording and are welcome edition. What a contribution he has madel to future generation of artists! I am buying the rest of the CDs in the serie. Highly recommmanded!

Bravo!:
Volume 3 of The Complete Piano Music (of Ernesto Lecuona) by Thomas Tirino contains some of the richest interpretations of the piano music of the great Cuban master I have ever heard. In particular, the orchestration of the Rapsodia Cubana is a work of inspiration. Through his considerable pianistic talent and scholarship, Mr. Tirino lends a sophisticated, international touch to this wonderful music that only an artist of his calibre could. The result is music that transcends ethnic and cultural borders and brings the listener into the world of pure sound.

DEFINITIVE LECUONA RECORDINGS:
Tirino's Lecuona recordings are the definitive ones for all time. The Rapsodia Cubana in particular is something that Cubans like myself will cherish for many years to come. Bravo!