In a characteristically thrilling fusion of musical styles, L’Arpeggiata, the prize-winning ensemble led by harpist Christina Pluhar, presents a programme of Spanish and Latin American music that ranges from the 17th century to the present day. Guest vocalists include French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, who sings the lyrical title tango ‘Lost Birds’ by Ástor Piazzolla.

A thrilling and arresting fusion of musical styles and techniques is a trademark of L’Arpeggiata. This new collection brings a heady Latin American mix. Echoes from the pre-Columbian era, African rhythms and the styles and structures of the European Baroque all enrich this survey of music from the 17th century to the present day, with a geographical spread that covers Spain, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Venezuela.

The ensemble offers an array of exotic stringed instruments: the arpa llanera (a harp with a distinctive tinkling, airy sound); cuatro (a form of small, four-stringed guitar); bandolin (a kind of 15-stringed mandolin); jarana (an eight-stringed guitar); requinto (a high-pitched guitar), and charango (a small Andean guitar originally constructed from an armadillo shell).

They are complemented by percussion, trumpet and clarinet, while the vocal parts are taken by French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and Italian vocalist Lucilla Galeazzi, the mezzo soprano Luciana Mancini, the Spanish soprano Raquel Andueza and the Neapolitan-trained ballet dancer-turned-singer Vincenzo Capezzuto, who brings his haunting alto tones to several numbers.

There are virtuosic guest instrumentalists too: Raul Orellana, on the charango, the Paraguayan harpist Lincoln Almada, and the Argentinian guitarist Quito Gato.

The title track is a lyrical tango, with a klezmer-like clarinet curling round Jaroussky’s vocal line, while the many other striking numbers include: the lively Pájarillo Verde from Venezuela, which will please fans of the Buena Vista Social Club; the melancholy Alfonsina y el Mar, sung by Lucilla Galeazzi; the haunting La embarazada del viento, with a powerful performance from Luciana Mancini; the sensual, purely instrumental Caballo Viejo and a version of the well-known bolero Besame mucho, with soprano Raquel Andueza, that is reminiscent of some of Peggy Lee’s sexier recordings.

Contents:
1. Anonymous (Popular Argentine) / Quito Gato: Duerme Negrito
Philippe Jaroussky

2. Ariel Ramírez / Félix Luna / Quito Gato: Alfonsina y el Mar (Zamba)
Lucilla Galeazzi

3. Anonymous (Popular Venezuela): Montilla
Luciana Mancini

4. Anonymous (Popular Paraguay): Pájaro Campana (Polca)
Lincoln Almada, Quito Gato

5. Astor Piazzolla / Mario Trejo / Quito Gato: Los Pájaros perdidos (Canción)
Philippe Jaroussky

6. Anonymous (Popular Venezuela): Pájarillo Verde (Pájarillo)
Luciana Mancini

7. Anonymous (Popular Paraguay): Isla Sacá (Polca)
Lincoln Almada, Quito Gato

8. Constantino Ramones: La embarazada del viento (Gaita Margariteña)
Luciana Mancini

9. Hamlet Lima Quintana / Noberto Ambros / Alfredo Rosales / Quito Gato: Zamba para no morir (Zamba)
Vincenzo Capezzuto

10. Pancho Cabral / Quito Gato / Christina Pluhar: Ay! este azul
Philippe Jaroussky

11. Juan Bautista Plaza / Quito Gato: El Curruchá
Vincenzo Capezzuto, Luciana Mancini

12. Anonymous (Popular Venezuela): Caballo Viejo (Pasaje) & Alma Llanera (Joropo)
Lincoln Almada, Quito Gato

13. Luis Mariano Rivera / Quito Gato / Christina Pluhar: La Cocoroba (Joropo oriental)
Vincenzo Capezzuto

14. Antonio Nella Castro / Hilda Herrera / Quito Gato: Zamba del Chaguanco (Zamba)
Philippe Jaroussky

15. Adela Gleijer / Diana Reches / Quito Gato / Christina Pluhar: Como un pájaro libre
Vincenzo Capezzuto

16. Maria Elena Walsh / Quito Gato / Christina Pluhar: Como la Cigarra
Philippe Jaroussky, Raquel Andueza

17. Otarolo Domínguez: Ojito de Agua
Raul Orellana

18. Anonymous (Popular Venezuela) / Quito Gato / Christina Pluhar: Polo margariteño
Luciana Mancini

19. Padre Antonio Soler / Christina Pluhar: Fandango
Sarah Ridy

20. Consuelo Velasquez: Besame mucho (Bolero)
Raquel Andueza