The rich variety of colours and rhythms in South American culture and music are an essential feature of this programme, which focuses largely on music by composers from the Ecuadorian Andes. Opening with Durán’s popular and crowd-pleasing Leyenda incásica, the theme of Ecuadorian dances continues in Jacinto Freire’s Suite, which also celebrates the flight of the condor. Virtuosity, evocations of landscape and expressive traditional songs can all be found here, concluding with Mexican composer Samuel Zyman’s internationally acclaimed Flute Sonata no.1, which ranges from lyrical introspection to intensely contrapuntal dialogue.

Our Latin American Classics series highlights the rich resource of brilliant music from South America, much of which is under-represented in concert programmes and recordings outside its region or origin. The excellent duo of Daniel Velasco and Ellen Sommer here brings together a wealth of remarkable scores from Ecuador, including a world premiere in their recording of Leonardo Cárdenas’s En el Centro del Mundo y el Tiempo, which was commissioned by Daniel Velasco.

The musicians on this recording are particularly fine. Daniel Velasco is an award-winning flautist whose ‘standout’ and ‘vibrant’ performances (Miami Herald) have taken him around the world. He is the First Prize winner of the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, WAMSO Minnesota Orchestra Competition, MTNA Young Artist Competition, Claude Monteux Flute Competition, Second Prize winner of the William C. Byrd Competition and finalist at the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh International Competition.

Pianist Ellen R. Sommer is a sought-after collaborative pianist, chamber musician and coach. Her reputation for excellence has led to extensive engagements throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Europe and Asia, and she can be heard on numerous commercially released recordings.