Souvenirs
Carlos Manuel Vargas piano
Pianist Carlos Vargas gives the public a rare glimpse into the depths of a musician’s soul with his intimate new solo album SOUVENIRS. It is a truly eclectic selection of pianistic gems, expertly collected across several centuries and countries, yet interconnected by profound virtuosity and sweeping romanticism.
SOUVENIRS travels to France, Russia, the United States, and (perhaps most importantly) Latin America; Poulenc makes an appearance, as do Scriabin, Gershwin, and Dominican composer Rafael Bullumba Landestoy, among others. Strikingly, Vargas rotates the kaleidoscope: his interpretation brings Latin flamboyance to Poulenc, Russian drama to Gershwin, and American spontaneity to Scriabin, to name but a few. All the pieces on SOUVENIRS are highly idiosyncratic; and yet, Vargas effortlessly unites them in their individual brilliance.
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Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Impressões Seresteiras | Heitor Villa-Lobos | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 5:16 |
| 02 | Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: The man I love | George Gershwin, arr. Earl Wild | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 2:15 |
| 03 | Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: Embraceable you | George Gershwin, arr. Earl Wild | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 2:59 |
| 04 | Romántico | Rafael Bullumba Landestoy | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 3:00 |
| 05 | Vals Santo Domingo | Rafael Bullumba Landestoy | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 3:25 |
| 06 | Estudio en Zamba | Rafael Bullumba Landestoy | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 1:24 |
| 07 | Sonata Fantasy - Piano Sonata No. 2 in G Sharp minor Op. 19: I. Andante | Alexander Scriabin | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 7:10 |
| 08 | Sonata Fantasy - Piano Sonata No. 2 in G Sharp minor Op. 19: II. Presto | Alexander Scriabin | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 3:57 |
| 09 | Hommage à Edith Piaf | Francis Poulenc | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 2:43 |
| 10 | La vie en Rose - Elaboration by Roberto Piana | Louis Guglielmi Louiguy, arr. Roberto Piana | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 1:56 |
| 11 | Hymne a l’amour - Elaboration by Roberto Piana | Marguerite Monnot, arr. Roberto Piana | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 2:35 |
| 12 | Preludio de Sofía | José María Vitier | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 3:23 |
| 13 | Levante | Osvaldo Golijov | Carlos Manuel Vargas, piano | 4:05 |
Dedications:
Track 1
Para mis profesores Karelia Escalante, Mercedes Machín, Hilda Melis y Miguel A. Tejada por todas sus enseñanzas
Tracks 2 & 3
To Marie Luise, with love.
Tracks 4-6
Para mi familia: Papi, Mami, Cynthia, Chris, Stephanie y Maria. Por todo el amor y apoyo a través de los años.
Tracks 7 & 8
To my dear professor Jonathan Bass, for your friendship and all the years of mentorship and guidance.
Tracks 9-11
To my supporters, for making this recording possible.
Track 12
Para Alessandra y Sofía, con mucho cariño
Track 13
Para mi gente de latinoamérica, con mucho amor!
Recorded on April 26, 2022 at Fraser Studio WGBH in Boston MA
Recording Session Producer, Engineer, Editing, Mixing & Mastering Antonio Oliart
Cover photograph Neda Navaee
Executive Producer Bob Lord
VP of A&R Brandon MacNeil
A&R Danielle Sullivan
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Aidan Curran
Digital Marketing Manager Brett Iannucci
Artist Information
Carlos Manuel Vargas
Carlos Manuel Vargas' performances have received accolades from both audiences and critics in the United States, South America, and Europe. Reviews of Vargas’ performances in the 2022 season, which included his solo debut recital in Germany at the Musiken concert series, have described his playing as “highly emotional and thoughtful” while praising the “striking energy and uncompromising honesty” of it. Highlights of the upcoming 2023–2024 season include a series of recitals in New England and California featuring music of what is to be his debut album titled SOUVENIRS as well as his debut with the National Symphony of Ecuador performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in honor of the composer’s 150th birth anniversary.
Notes
SOUVENIRS is a compilation of pieces that represent my current musical influences and interests: my latin american roots, my love for jazz standards and french ballades and of course, my classical upbringing.
When selecting the pieces that comprise this album, I thought carefully about my artistic journey and the importance of the people that have shaped who I am as an artist. With this record I intend to honor their unwavering commitment and support to my career over the course of the years and because of this each piece has a dedicatee, a “souvenir” of my eternal gratitude.
— Carlos Manuel Vargas
