Alison Stephens - Souvenirs For Mandolin & Guitar

By Mandolin Cafe
September 28, 2009 - 9:30 am

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Souvenirs for Mandolin and Guitar is the newest release from UK-based mandolinist Alison Stephens and long-time musical partner Craig Ogden on guitar.

An eclectic recording with nearly 80 minutes of music from all over the world, Souvenirs was inspired in part by Stephens' recent battle with cancer, now in remission.

All proceeds from the sale of the recording will benefit the MacMillan Cancer Support.

Works on the disc include compositions from Ortiz, Pino, del Cauca, Hadjikakis, Boudounis, Zambrano, Nawata, Stephens, Zerega, Leonardi, Muñoz, Angulo, Diaz, Theodorakis, Kioulaphides, Tadic & Kaufmann.

About the artist:

Alison Stephens is arguably the leading exponent of the classical mandolin in the UK. She was the first graduate of mandolin from Trinity College of Music, London, and was appointed as a teacher upon graduation, a post she still holds. Alison has played across the UK and has toured extensively across the Far and Middle East; Australia, South Africa, across Europe and in USA.

She has also frequently broadcast and recorded live for radio including BBC Radios 3 and 4, Classic FM, ABC (Australia), SABC (South Africa), BBC Radio Scotland and has presented her own BBC Radio 4 feature which was subsequently nominated for a Sony Award.

She also regularly plays in opera, ballet, film scores including The Queen, The Golden Compass, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Fantastic Mr Fox; and concert performances with the country's leading orchestras including the Orchestras of the Royal Opera House, Opera North and Welsh National Opera, the BBC orchestras, CBSO, RLPO, LSO and leading contemporary music ensembles including the London Sinfonietta and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

Alison is Mandolin Editor for the leading UK based music publisher Astute Music. The mandolin catalogue was launched in 2002 and is growing all the time. It publishes a wide range of carefully selected and edited mandolin music for all abilities from beginner through to advanced levels.

This chocolate-box of 20th-century miniatures played with poise, vitality, and seamless understanding by two brilliant performers. — Rob Ainsley, BBC Music Magazine.

Additional information:
Purchase: From amazon.com U.S.
Purchase: From amazon.com UK
Purchase: From MDK (UK)
Released: September, 2009
Artist web site
MySpace site
Label: Chandos CHAN 10563

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