Yakushi ji

William Grant Still (1895-1978) is celebrated as the “Dean of African American Composers.” He was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra and the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company. Summerland is the second piece of his Three Visions set.

Ji Hyung Park has won numerous prestigious competitions, with the 7th Changsha International Guitar Competition in 2018 his most recent triumph. The diverse selection of music performed in this programme features three virtuoso sonatas by Scarlatti, the world premiere recording of Leo Brouwer's evocation of ancient Greek culture Les Ciclades arcaicas, Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Sonata 'Omaggio a Boccherini' in its original, pre-Segovia manuscript form, Takemitsu's final work In the Woodsand rare selections from Albéniz's masterpiece Iberia. The programme ends with a colourful arrangement of Toots Thielemann's gorgeous Bluesette.