THE LATEST NEWS!
SUSAN’S NEW RECORDING
’A TEMPO’,
Music from Lisboa, Buenos Aires and New York.
FEATURING: Susan Palma-Nidel, flute; Pedro Jóia, guitarra and Hector del Curto, bandoneon.
Compositions by: Carlos de Seixas, Leonard Bernstein, Astor Piazzolla, Pablo Ziegler, Pedro Jóia, Anselmo Aieta, Artur Ribeiro and Raul Ferrāo
PROJECTED RELEASE DATE: JUNE 10, 2024
ABOUT THE RECORDING
EARTHQUAKE 1755 - THE ENLGHTENMENT & SEIXAS
The project began with Susan’s exploration of Portugal’s greatest and most famous Classical Composer, Carlos Seixas (José António Carlos de Seixas) inspired by Pedro’s love and knowledge of history. Seixas was a contemporary of Scarlatti. As the story goes, after Seixas sought Scarlatti out and Scarlatti heard him play (harpsichord, probably), Scarlatti said “You don’t need to study with me, I need to study with you.”
Most of Seixas’s work was lost in the World Changing 1755 Earthquake in Lisboa. Why World Changing?
The destruction of the city, including fires, a tsunami and virtually total damage to most of the southern part of the city caused by the quake, led to the appointment of architects, engineers (see Manuel de Maia), seismologists and politicians who revolutionized urban construction and seismology rebuilding much of Lisboa.
A despotic Monarchy changed its views when King Joseph I took the throne in 1750. He appointed the Marquis de Pombal chief minister, who revolutionized Portugal and orchestrated the rebuilding of Lisboa. Yes, he was a dictator (sort of benevolent), slavery was abandoned (temporarily), Jews were allowed to return and life for the everyman improved. The Reconstruction of Lisboa is now widely considered as the first major event of The Enlightenment. Voltaire (Candide is set during this period), Piranesi, Kant, Rousseau and many other luminaries of the day deemed the earthquake a world changing event that exposed the horrors of close living. Pombal’s design revolutionized the concept of building codes and it inspired construction of other urban areas including the Eixample in Barcelona in the late 19th century.
The original idea was to focus the music on Seixas and the upcoming celebration of the 270th anniversary of the earthquake in Lisboa in 2025, but the project morphed into much more. 4 tracks of Seixas’s music remain on the recording.
In 2019 Susan performed in NYC with Pedro, Hector and others and it was clear there was a very special chemistry among the three of them. After much research and discussion, Susan, Pedro and Hector selected, composed, arranged and recorded several classic tunes from Lisboa and Buenos Aires which appear on the recording. ‘Some other Time”.
In late January and early February 2023, Susan travelled to Portugal where she recorded several tracks with Pedro in Arraiolos, (Alentejo) and Lisboa. In May 2023, Pedro came to New York where the three recorded in Brooklyn. Susan returned to Portugal in late October 2023 to complete the recording of the project.
TRACK INFORMATION:
1. Palomita Blanca 3’25” ***
(M-Anselmo Aieta: 1896-1964;
L-Franciso G. Jiménez)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
Hector del Curto, bandoneon
2. Sonata No. 24 in D Minor 1’59” *
Presto (Carlos Seixas: 1704-42)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
3. Alguien sin Nombre 3’38” **
(Pablo Ziegler, b. 1944)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
4. Rosinha dos Limões 3’ 27” **
(Artur Ribeiro: 1924-82)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
José Manuel Neto, guitarra Portugues
Carlos Proença, violão
5. O Tempo do Sobreiro 2’31” *
(Pedro Jóia, b. 1970)*
Susan Palma Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
6. Fadinho do Atentado 3’04” ****
(Pedro Jóia)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
José Manuel Neto, guitarra Portuguesa
João Frade, accordeon
Denys Stetsenko, violins
Nuno Abreu, cello
Ciro Bertini, piano
7. Sonata No. 23 in D Minor 2’28” *
Adagio (Carlos Seixas)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
8. Sonata No. 24 in D Minor 1’34” **
Giga (Carlos Seixas)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
9. Bruno et Sarah 2’56” ***
(Astor Piazzolla: 1921-1992)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Hector del Curto, bandoneon
10. Maldito Fado 3’07” ***
(M-Raúl Ferrão: 1890-1953; L-Pedro Bandeira/Álvaro Leal)
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
Hector del Curto, bandoneon
11. Some other Time 4’25” ***
(M-Leonard Bernstein: 1918-90; L-Betty Comden/Adolph Green)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
Pedro Jóia, guitarra
Hector del Curto, bandoneon
Arranged by Sam Bobinski
12. Sonata No. 42 in A Minor 1’31” **
Minuet (Carlos Seixas)
Susan Palma-Nidel, flauta
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Transcriptions & arrangements of Carlos Seixas tracks:
Susan Palma-Nidel
*Recorded in Arraiolos, Portugal at Mont das Bardeiras Studios.
Engineer: Fernando Gomes
**Recorded in Lisboa, Portugal at Gravisom Studios.
Engineer: Fernando Gomes
***Recorded in Brooklyn New York at Atomic Sound Studios.
Engineer Alejandro Venguer; Assistant: Carlos Mora
**** Recorded in Brooklyn, New York at Atomic Sound Studios and in Lisboa, Portugal at Gravisom Studios
Recording Mastered by Oscar Zambrano, Zampol Productions,
161 Christie Street, New York, New York 10002
Produced by:
Susan Palma-Nidel & Richard O. Nidel
For Flutewine Productions, LLC
Cover Photo: Susan Palma-Nidel
Back Cover and inside Photos: Richard O. Nidel