Composer H. Andrew Rieger (Drew Rieger to his friends) has been working on an exciting new CD recording project of his music for violin and piano. All of the music selected for this CD is inspired by music and dance of the Baroque period — a period of particular fascination for Drew Rieger. Read more on this in the READ section of this website. The CD is planned to be released in 2015. Check back for more details.
“I am so ecstatic to work with two astoundingly-talented artists, pianist Nancy Roldan and violinist Jose Cueto. I first heard Nancy and Jose perform together when I was in my teens; they had formed a quintet called PENTAD that performed all of the great chamber works. I attended nearly every one of their performances, and never in my wildest dreams thought that they would be performing my music one day. It is truly the fulfillment of a dream.”
LE TOMBEAU DE BEAUCHAMP
VIOLIN AND PIANO
The “Tombeau” commemorates the life of Pierre Beauchamp (1636-1705), French dancing master at Versailles who taught Louis XIV. Beauchamp devised a system of footwork notation that makes it possible to reconstruct his choreographies. As Baroque dance was often only accompanied by solo violin, the instrument is featured in almost concerto-like fashion. Overflowing with Baroque dance rhythms and sonorous harmonies associated with the French court, the impetus for this piece was to write a ballet of simple and accessible beauty.
Overture
Pavane – Tambourin
SCHERZO
VIOLIN AND PIANO
Chromatic, fugal, and lyrical, this piece started out as a movement from an abandoned violin sonata. It stands alone and would work well as an encore piece.
3 GROTESQUES
SOLO PIANO
Inspired by the fantastical gardens and buildings of the Italian Baroque, these piano miniatures explore the mythological and allegorical fantasies evoked by the Grotto of Buontalenti in Florence, the Stairs of the Palazzo Barberini in Venice, and the Fountain of Neptune in Villa d’Este outside of Rome.
Recording in progress!
FANTASIA
TANGO FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO
Dedicated to violinist Jose Cueto and pianist Nancy Roldan, this piece evokes the feeling of tango without ever becoming a tango. Noble and at times spirited this piece would make a good concert opener.
Recording in progress!
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About the Musicians…The Duo Cueto-Roldán
The Duo Cueto-Roldán has toured in the USA, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Argentina, promoting the performance of chamber and duo music of works rarely heard. The duo’s repertory includes traditional Classical music. Favorite recording of the duo are On Wings of Angels, featuring solo and violin-piano selections “for the heart,” and Remembrance, featuring some of the duo’s live performances in the XX century. Their collaboration may also be heard in the Trio Americas Recording Celebrations. In 2013 the duo premiered Roldán’s transcription of Piazzolla’s ‘Cuatro estaciones porteñas,’ a work which will be part of a violin/piano Astor Piazzolla album. In October of 2014, the Duo recorded works by American composer H. Andrew Rieger.
Nancy Roldán, piano
Acclaimed excellent pianist by New York critics, Nancy Roldán has concertized in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Latin America, including her native Argentina. Interpreting solo, chamber music, and repertory with orchestras, she has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Carnegie Hall, and the Bösendorfer Saal among other venues. A champion of Latin American music, her recordings for Centaur Records include Music from the Americas [Lester-Roldán Duo Pianists] and Horizons [Piano Music from Latin America]. In 2013 she completed the violin & piano duo transcription of Astor Piazzolla’s Cuatro estaciones porteñas. Distinctions include first prize “30th Anniversary of UNC-Argentina”, Distinguished Alumnae Award [UNC-Argentina], and two Johns Hopkins/Peabody faculty-development grants [2002-2006]. She has premiered numerous contemporary works, some dedicated to her by Thomas Benjamin, Daniel Thomas Davis, and Jorge Villavicencio-Grossman. Dr. Roldán serves on the American Liszt Society Board of Directors, is President/Founder of its Baltimore-Washington Chapter, and founder/director of the Liszt-Garrison Piano Festival & International Competition in Maryland, which requires the performance of works by Franz Liszt and American composers. Retired faculty from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, she performs worldwide and maintains a consulting studio in Maryland. Upcoming engagements include recording Piazzolla, adjudicating the LA-Liszt international piano competition, duo & ensemble performances, the October 2015 Liszt-Garrison First Decade Celebration, and the Ravel Concerto for piano and orchestra with Concert Artists of Baltimore. For additional information, please visit her website.
José Cueto, violin
Born in Puerto Rico, violinist José Miguel Cueto received full scholarships from Puerto Rico and the Peabody Conservatory to study with laureate violinist Berl Senofsky at the Johns Hopkins University. Performance credits include appearances with violinists Berl Senofsky and Ruggiero Ricci, cellist Stephen Kates, clarinetist Gervase de Peyer, and pianist Leon Fleisher among others. In great demand as chamber musician, recitalist and soloist, he has performed under the baton of Fiora Contino, Leon Fleisher, Odón Alonso, Frederik Prausnitz, Edward Polochick, and Kenneth Kiesler, in the USA and abroad. Strad magazine recognized Cueto’s debut performance at Weill-Carnegie Hall as grounded, confident, and superb. He has toured extensively in Argentina, the Eastern United States, Hungary, China, the Czeck Republic, and in Russia, where he made two recordings with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra: one featuring the Sibelius Concerto and another of Italian Concerti. Additional recordings include Music of Portuguese Composers, Music of the Americas with Trio Americas, On Wings of Angels, with pianist Nancy Roldán, Celebrations, Music by Thomas Benjamin, and Gladness of Heart with Edward Polochick and Concert Artists of Baltimore’s orchestra, of which he is the concertmaster. Upcoming performances for the 2014-2015 season include the Tchaikowsky violin concerto and the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi with Concert Artists of Baltimore. Mr Cueto is Artist in Residence and Chair of Strings at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He has recently been appointed to the String Faculty of Catholic University of America.
