JUNE 12, 2021 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Album That Connects Guitar Tradition to Chopin, is Heard Again
Swedish classical guitarist Mattias Schulstad releases “Invocación,” his full-length debut, as an NFT. Produced by 19-time Grammy-winner David Frost, the recording introduced in recent history that the modern guitar tradition is connected to Chopin.
“Invocación” introduced in recent history that the modern guitar tradition is connected to Chopin.
Image: Mats Bäcker/White Label Productions Ltd.
STOCKHOLM — As a young boy in Sweden, Mattias Schulstad remembers playing Adelita, a mazurka by Tárrega, wondering why a Spanish composer wrote music in a Polish format. “By the time I had discovered the music of Chopin, and found Tárrega’s Chopin transcriptions, I began to see a connection,” he said. “I thought, ‘maybe this is something to explore.’”
“Invocación” features works of Tárrega and Chopin in the prelude, mazurka and nocturne formats, framed by works of Tárrega’s pupils Miguel Llobet and Emilio Pujol. The recording is produced by David Frost, who has received 19 Grammy Awards for his work, and currently serves as music producer with the Metropolitan Opera.
“Our recording with Mattias was made at the Academy of Arts and Letters in New York,” said Mr. Frost. “This medium sized auditorium has a deep and natural acoustic and has served as a recording venue for artists such as Artur Rubinstein and Alicia de Larrocha.”
The NFT release date, June 12, is known as Record Store Day, which celebrates independently owned record stores. The date marks the album’s release anniversary and coincides with its 1M Spotify stream milestone. The album is offered as a “1 out of 1” NFT on the platform OpenSea, and enables access to the album's twenty-two tracks in master-grade audio resolution (24-bit, 88.2 kHz, .wav), cover image, and extensive written insights by Mr. Schulstad, edited by Pulitzer-winner Tim Page.
Upon its first release, “Invocación” was featured on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine, named Album of the Week by the radio stations Classic FM and WQXR, and chosen as Editor’s Choice by Gramophone magazine. “The playing throughout is refined, intelligent and highly musical; the tone, though never sweet, is fulsome and appealing. An outstanding debut,” Gramophone wrote in its review. The album is featured on a number of Spotify’s editorial playlists.
Swedish classical guitarist Mattias Schulstad. Image: Mats Bäcker/White Label Productions Ltd.
The album features a rare guitar, with both history and a story. In 1966, Mr. Schulstad’s first teacher Erik Möllerström was introduced by his teacher Eduardo Sainz de la Maza to luthier Ignacio Fleta (read: Stradivarius), championed by Andrés Segovia. (Eduardo Sainz de la Maza was a pupil of Miguel Llobet, who is a featured arranger on the album, and brother to Regino Sainz de la Maza, who was dedicated Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.) The meeting between Mr. Möllerström and Mr. Fleta led to a guitar, completed in 1971 — during Fleta’s “golden age” — which in 2010 was passed from Mr. Möllerström to Mr. Schulstad, who named the guitar “Erik,” after his teacher.
“When, for health reasons, I decided to finish playing the guitar, I wished that the instrument I had collected from Ignacio Fleta in January 1972 and which had been my faithful companion for nearly forty years, could get to live on with someone who took good care of the guitar,” Mr. Möllerström said. “For me, my pupil Mattias became the obvious choice.”
“We were able to capture the subtle and rich colors of Mattias’ extraordinary guitar and his playing, which has much nuance and an inward beauty,” Mr. Frost said.
The album’s central figure, Francisco Tárrega, is recognized today as a founding composer for the modern classical guitar. His steady use of guitars made by Antonio de Torres helped standardize the design and sound qualities of the instrument we know today, and his pupils carried forth his ambitious ideas about its possibilities.
“The music on the album creates a bridge between idiomatic music for the guitar and the great piano music of Chopin. I found this to be an interesting challenge, but one that ultimately works,” Mr. Frost said.
Recorded in 2010 and 2012, and first released in 2012, the album was rereleased in 2020 featuring updated sound, cover art and distribution. “I am grateful to Anders Wall, whose vision and generosity enabled this release on my own label,” Mr. Schulstad said.
“And I feel lucky to have the chance to work with David Frost. He is an extraordinary person and musician, and I continue to learn and grow throughout our collaboration.”
Mattias Schulstad is a Swedish classical guitarist who has made recordings, performed as soloist with orchestra, and developed the guitar’s repertoire.
This text includes a paragraph from the album’s liner notes, edited by Tim Page.
For more information, please contact Mattias Schulstad by email, at info@mattiasguitar.com.