Richard Portter

Spanish colonies in Central and South America emerged as wellsprings of cultural activity throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The meeting of indigenous populations with Latin American cathedrals and courtly life resulted in styles bearing the imprint of folk music, even in sacred compositions. The sophisticated musical culture of Guatemala City Cathedral is represented in an archive of hundreds of works, several of which are recorded here. The guitars, harp, voices and percussion of acclaimed ensemble El Mundo bring to life the vibrant and at times hypnotic dance rhythms of Spain, Africa and the New World, creating a sound unique to this region, and one that still flourishes to this day.

This album of some of the 20th century’s most captivating songs and standards are heard here in dazzling new arrangements by Richard Balcombe. With a perfect marriage of words and music, these classic songs have a timeless appeal. Whether written for movies, revues or musicals, or specifically for the most renowned singers of the day, all the greatest composers and lyricists of the time are represented in this outstanding new collection.

Richard Durrant has performed tirelessly since his graduation from the Royal College of Music & London debut in 1986. He plays c.70 concerts each year at home and abroad and has written, arranged and discovered much new guitar repertoire. Performing, composing, promoting music literacy and breaking down musical barriers has been his life’s work.

It's perhaps a little surprising that Cliff Richard never really had the same impact in the music scene on this side of the pond that he did in his native England. Richard has set untold records (no pun intended) in the British music industry, selling hundreds of millions of records and by some accounts becoming the biggest selling male artist in British history…