Cicho Xavier

Saint-Saëns's first opera, Le Timbre d'argent initially composed in 1864 need not fear comparison with some of the most celebrated works in the nineteenth-century French repertory. It depicts the nightmare of a man whose hallucinations anticipate by twenty years the fantastical apparitions of Offenbach's Les Contes d Hoffmann.

Paris, early Twentieth Century: in the space of three ballets, a previously unknown Russian composer revolutionised the music of his time. With The Firebird and Petrushka, respectively fairytale and folktale, and of course The Rite of Spring, a telluric invocation with its insanely innovative harmonies and rhythms, Stravinsky dynamised the Late Romantic orchestra, taking it to literally unheard-of places.

For many centuries the sea-bound Portuguese have been looking across the ocean. In the wake of their role in history, a wide and exciting multicultural network arose that is very much alive until today, first of all in music. The vivid rhythmical and melodious universe between Lisbon, the lusophone African countries and Brazil has always fascinated the guitarist Joel Xavier. Having just successfully anchored his latest opus in New York - in collaboration with his prominent duo-partner Ron Carter -, he now shifts focus to the pulsating dynamics of south-atlantic regions with his new album „Saravá“. Xavier´s live-record debut also marks his return to the electric jazz guitar.

Serenata Española features the unique collaboration between Xavier de Maistre and Flamenco legend & castanets soloist Lucero Tena. Xavier and Lucero were introduced to each other by conductor Jesús López Cobos. Xavier de Maistre fell in love with Lucero' story and personality. Shortly after, they decided to record a repertoire they had in common: Spanish Music. The album features compositions by Albeniz, Granados, Tarrega and de Falla, arranged for harp and castanets.