{"product_id":"andrea-ferrario-hans-werner-henze-sonatas-on-shakespearean-characters-drei-tentos-cd","title":"Andrea Ferrario - Hans Werner Henze: Guitar Sonatas on Shakespearean Characters, Drei Tentos (CD) PREORDER","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRoyal Winter Music turns Shakespearean figures into dramatic guitar scenes, with Henze's theatrical imagination brought vividly to life.\u003c\/h1\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuitar Sonatas on Shakespearean Characters \/ Drei Tentos\u003c\/i\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eRoyal Winter Music\u003c\/i\u003e, this recording explores a unique intersection of literature and modern composition, where Shakespearean drama is translated into vivid musical character studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginally conceived in the 1960s and later realized at the suggestion of legendary guitarist Julian Bream, \u003ci\u003eRoyal Winter Music\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003ci\u003eBottom's Dream\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComplementing these large-scale works are the \u003ci\u003eDrei Tentos\u003c\/i\u003e, drawn from \u003ci\u003eKammermusik 1958\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAndrea 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 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, \u003ci\u003eGuitar Sonatas on Shakespearean Characters\u003c\/i\u003e offers a richly layered listening experience that rewards both analytical attention and emotional engagement.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecorded 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 \u003ci\u003eWire\u003c\/i\u003e (1918-19), reinforcing the release's curated aesthetic and historical framing within the Da Vinci Classics catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e      \u003ch2\u003eAdditional Details\u003c\/h2\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e DA VINCI CLASSICS\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Classical\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e 62 mins\u003c\/p\u003e     \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 09\/18\/26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 746160919232\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"EGEAMUSIC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48613720391929,"sku":"C01081","price":15.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0815\/4889\/files\/C01081.jpg?v=1782848019","url":"https:\/\/mvdshop.com\/products\/andrea-ferrario-hans-werner-henze-sonatas-on-shakespearean-characters-drei-tentos-cd","provider":"MVD Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}