Sentimental, dynamic, exuberant, multi-talented and extremely eclectic, Francisco Mignone, whose Italian background brought a sense of universality to his musical nationalism, was a leading figure in the Brazilian music scene during the 20th century. The Clarinet Concertino and Bassoon Concertino share a nationalist idiom: the dialogues between soloist and orchestra extend into expressive duets with the exciting use of rapid embolada – a Brazilian form of poetry and song. The elegant Guitar Concerto is filled with drama and vitality, while the Violin Concerto was summed up by one critic as ‘the greatest work of this challenging genre in the history of Brazilian music’.

Violinist and conductor Emmanuele Baldini has garnered prizes from countless international competitions, and has performed as a soloist or recitalist across the globe, performing in all of the major European and Latin American concert halls. Baldini’s numerous acclaimed recordings include the complete violin sonatas of Villa-Lobos (8574310) which was a MusicWeb International Recording of the Month and considered ‘top class performances… played with attractive effervescence without at any time sounding rushed or superficial.’ Baldini also appears this month in our recording of Marco Bossi’s Violin Sonatas (8574515).

Guitarist Fábio Zanon has performed in over 50 countries, appeared as a soloist with prestigious international orchestras and his vast repertoire includes numerous world premiere performances. He has been awarded first prizes at numerous international guitar competitions. His discography includes a critically acclaimed recording of the Villa-Lobos Guitar Concerto in The Music of Brazil series (8574018), which was given a score of 10/10 by ClassicsToday.com.

Alexandre Silvério is the principal bassoonist of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and is also a very committed jazz bassoonist, while the award-winning Ovanir Buosi is principal clarinet with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra whose recording of Camargo Guarnieri’s Chôro for Clarinet and Orchestra can be found on the acclaimed Brazilian Music Series album Chôros Vol.2 (8574403).

Artistic director and principal conductor of the Goiás Philharmonic Orchestra since 2014, English conductor Neil Thomson was principal conductor of the Royal College of Music from 1992 to 2006, of which he is an honorary member. He has led concerts with the London, Tokyo, National Russian and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, as well as the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (Osesp) on several occasions. Thomson has taught at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Krakow Academy of Music and at various festivals.

Six-time Grammy Award winner and music director of the Nashville Symphony and the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, conductor Giancarlo Guerrero was born in Nicaragua and immigrated to Costa Rica as a child. He later studied percussion and conducting at Baylor University, and obtained his Master’s degree in conducting at Northwestern University. Throughout his career, he has performed with prestigious North American orchestras such as the Baltimore, Dallas, Seattle and Washington, D.C. National Symphony Orchestras, Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as with various European groups such as the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and the London, Radio France and Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestras.