Icarus

"Ícaro" is a captivating recital for cello and piano that brings together four outstanding works rooted in the Spanish musical nationalism of the early 20th century, enriched by Catalan folk music and French impressionist sophistication. Cellist Alex Olmedo Duynslaeger and pianist Fiona Mato present a carefully curated program that combines new discoveries with beloved repertoire pieces, making it highly attractive to both experts and a wider classical audience. The album opens with Joaquín Nin y Castellanos' "Suite Espagnole," a lively journey through regional dances and melodies shaped by the Franco-Spanish aesthetic of interwar Paris. A special highlight is the world premiere of the "Sonata in A Major" by Lluís Benejam, recovered from the archives of the Barcelona Conservatory: an elegant, finely crafted work that blends impressionist textures, rhythmic vitality, and lyrical depth. This is followed by Manuel Oltra's mature "Sonata for Cello and Piano," characterized by its dynamic dialogue, structural clarity, and expressive intensity, before the program concludes with Gaspar Cassadó’s famous "Requiebros," dedicated to Pau Casals and played here with remarkable freedom and full personality. "Ícaro" serves as both an artistic statement and a journey of discovery into strong interpretive personalities and a narrative that bridges myth, tradition, and modern performance.