Captain Corelli's Mandolin and the Latin Trilogy
                      guitar: Craig Ogden
                      mandolin: Alison Stephens
                      Label: CHANDOS
                      Catalog #: CHAN 0579
                      Spars Code:DDD

It is hardly surprising that Louis de Bernières was both a guitar and mandolin player, albeit for love. He started off with the guitar progressing from ragtime to Bach, to Spanish music. His love of the mandolin grew whilst working on Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
This selection (see below for list of works included) presents music from the late 16th to the late 20th centuries - from Vivaldi to Antonio Lauro excitingly and sensitively played by Ogden and Stephens. Craig Ogden (guitar) brings a colourful flourish to the Spanish pieces with which he especially empathises. Interestingly, Alison Stephens' (mandolin) father was a mandolinist and like Captain Corelli, played his way through World War II!
The Vivaldi Concerto in C sits well on both instruments, and has considerable classical beauty. The Andante of Hummel is gentle and soft; each instrument beautifully complimenting the other. The Villa Lobos pieces are very evocative seemingly depicting sultry Brazilian nights with their languorous chords and sensual melodies. Antonio Lauro's Four Venezuelan Waltzes are short but not especially memorable it must be said. Miguel Llobet's three short pieces on this album are more interesting: 'A Mother's Son'speaks adoringly; 'Amelia's Testament' is equally tender - so too is 'The Master'. Turina's 'Soleares' evokes warm evening sunshine and peasants dancing and drinking until the early hours.
There are four premier recordings: Benedetto Persichini's vibrant and distinctive Polcha variata'; Raffaela Calace's 'Love is a Fool' suggestive of an argument between a dominant man and his pleading lover - a little gem that is wistful, coy and whimsical; Angy Palumbo's 'Petite Bolero' with its exciting vibrant rhythms; and the Anon piece, 'Mis Dolencias' (My Sorrows) sounding just the opposite - joyful - perhaps the sorrows he past?
The music associated with Louis de Bernières' novels is colourful and quite varied - exciting, moody, sensual and evocative. But it seems to create a sense of yearning for something elusive. If you've enjoyed the novels then this compilation will be a heightened pleasure; if not just sit back and enjoy being soothed.

                                                        Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
                                                      Concerto in C, RV 425
                                                      track 1  I Allegro
                                                      track 2  II Largo
                                                      track 3  III [Allegro]

                                                      Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837)
                                                      track 4  from Concerto for Mandolin in G major

                                                        Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)
                                                      track 5  Grand duo concertant, Op. 85

                                                        Benedetto Persichini (c1880/90 - ?)
                                                      track 6  Polcha variata

                                                        Raffaele Calace (1863-1934)
                                                      track 7  Amor si culla, Op. 133

                                                        Angy Palumbo
                                                      track 8  Petite Bolero

                                                        Julio Sagreras (b. 1933)
                                                      track 9  El Colibri

                                                        Heitor Villa-Lobos  (1887-1959)
                                                      track 10  Choros No. 1
                                                      track 11  Prélude No. 1

                                                        Antonio Lauro (1917 - 1986)
                                                      Four Venezuelan Waltzes
                                                      track 12  1 Allegro
                                                      track 13  2 Allegro
                                                      track 14  3 Allegro ritmico
                                                      track 15  5 [ ]

                                                        Agustin Barrios  (1885-1944)
                                                      track 16  Cho da Saudade
                                                      track 17  Las Abejas

                                                        Miguel Llobet (1878-1938)
                                                      track 18  El Noi de la Mare
                                                      track 19  El Testament d'Amelia
                                                      track 20  El Mestre

                                                        Anonymous
                                                      track 21  Mis Dolencias

                                                        Celedonio Romero  (b. 1918)
                                                      track 22  from Suite Andaluza

                                                        Joaquin Turina  (1882-1949)
                                                      track 23  from Homenaje a Tárrega