Royal Winter Music turns Shakespearean figures into dramatic guitar scenes, with Henze's theatrical imagination brought vividly to life.

Guitar Sonatas on Shakespearean Characters / Drei Tentos brings together one of Hans Werner Henze's most imaginative and theatrically charged works for solo guitar, performed with precision and expressive depth by Andrea Ferrario. Anchored by the monumental cycle Royal Winter Music, this recording explores a unique intersection of literature and modern composition, where Shakespearean drama is translated into vivid musical character studies.

Originally conceived in the 1960s and later realized at the suggestion of legendary guitarist Julian Bream, Royal Winter Music unfolds across two sonatas comprising nine movements that depict twelve characters drawn from Shakespeare's plays. Rather than static portraits, Henze presents these figures in motion--alive with psychological tension, dramatic contrast, and narrative momentum. From the jagged, dissonant energy of Gloucester (Richard III) to the lyrical dialogue of Romeo and Juliet, the ethereal delicacy of Ariel, and the melancholic introspection of Ophelia, each movement functions as both character study and structural experiment. Henze blends sonata form, fugato writing, scherzo variation, and free fantasy into a constantly shifting musical language that balances modernist techniques with theatrical immediacy.

The second sonata expands this approach with a darker, more abstract palette. A funeral march for Sir Andrew Aguecheek establishes a tonal anchor before dissolving into more ambiguous harmonic territories, while Bottom's Dream evokes a surreal pastoral landscape infused with romantic and dreamlike qualities. The final movement, centered on Lady Macbeth, is among the most intense in the cycle--its fragmented motifs and relentless energy reflecting psychological disintegration and dramatic violence. Across both sonatas, Henze references traditional forms without ever fully adhering to them, creating a work that feels simultaneously rooted in history and unmistakably modern.

Complementing these large-scale works are the Drei Tentos, drawn from Kammermusik 1958 and originally conceived as interludes within a broader chamber setting. These pieces distill Henze's approach to the guitar into concise, exploratory forms, blending atonality, lyrical fragmentation, and percussive techniques. The term 'tento,' evoking Renaissance instrumental forms, underscores the composer's interest in bridging historical idioms with contemporary expression, resulting in works that feel both ancient and forward-looking.

Andrea Ferrario's performance reflects a deep engagement with Henze's demanding language, combining technical clarity with a nuanced sense of color and phrasing. A prize-winning guitarist with extensive international experience, Ferrario brings a refined interpretive voice shaped by studies with leading figures such as Lorenzo Micheli, Oscar Ghiglia, and Zoran Dukic. His approach highlights the dramatic contrasts and structural intricacies of the music while maintaining a cohesive narrative thread across the program.

This release stands as both a tribute to Henze's enduring contribution to the guitar repertoire and a compelling exploration of how literary imagination can be transformed into sound. Through its fusion of Shakespearean drama, modernist composition, and virtuosic performance, Guitar Sonatas on Shakespearean Characters offers a richly layered listening experience that rewards both analytical attention and emotional engagement.

Recorded in April 2024 at Palazzo Cigola Martinoni (Cigole, Italy), the album features production, editing, and mastering by DV Studios (Gabriele Zanetti), with detailed liner notes by Silvia Del Zoppo. The total runtime of approximately 62 minutes is complemented by artwork based on Paul Nash's Wire (1918-19), reinforcing the release's curated aesthetic and historical framing within the Da Vinci Classics catalogue.

Additional Details

Label: DA VINCI CLASSICS

Genre: Classical

Run Time: 62 mins

Release Date: 09/18/26

UPC: 746160919232