Unexpected America Oscar Bohórquez & Frank Braley

• Paul Schoenfield (1947 - 2024): Four Souvenirs for Violin and Piano:
• 1 Schoenfield: Four Souvenirs for Violin and Piano: I. Samba 03:01
• 2 Schoenfield: Four Souvenirs for Violin and Piano: II. Tango 03:42
• 3 Schoenfield: Four Souvenirs for Violin and Piano: III. Tin Pan Alley 01:54
• 4 Schoenfield: Four Souvenirs for Violin and Piano: IV. Square Dance 02:50
• William Bolcom (b. 1938): Graceful Ghost:
• 5 Bolcom: Graceful Ghost 06:23
• Mozart Camargo Guarnieri (1907 - 1993): Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Piano:
• 6 Guarnieri: Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Piano: I. Energico ma espressivo 03:41
• 7 Guarnieri: Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Piano: II. Intimo 06:13
• 8 Guarnieri: Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Piano: III. Allegro appassionato 06:43
• Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990): Nocturne:
• 9 Copland: Nocturne: Lento moderato 05:40
• Mike Mower (b. 1958): Sonata Latino for Flute and Piano:
• 10 Mower: Sonata Latino for Flute and Piano: III. Bossa Merengova 05:06
• Total Runtime 45:13

Info for Unexpected America

With the energy of a jet engine, violinist Oscar Bohórquez and pianist Frank Braley dive into a whirlwind exploration of unknown and thrilling American repertoire. Duos by Paul Schoenfield, William Bolcom, Aaron Copland, Mike Mower, and Brazilian composer Mozart Camargo Guarnieri – blessed with a name as remarkable as his music – bring the rhythmic vitality of the Americas into your living room. From jungle and desert-infused melodies to the spirit of tango, samba, rumba, square dance, and New York jazz clubs, this album offers a wonderfully vibrant and captivating musical experience.

Oscar Bohorquez, violin
Frank Braley, piano

Oscar Bohórquez
a distinguished German violinist, was born into a Latin American musical family and performs on a rare 1729 Guarneri del Gesù violin. His artistry has captivated audiences at prestigious venues, including the Berliner Philharmonie, Maison de la Radio et de la Musique in Paris, and the Salon de Provence Festival. Critics, such as Mario-Felix Vogt of the Berliner Morgenpost, have lauded his seamless transitions between delicate pianissimos and virtuosic passages.

In 2023, Oscar collaborated with German actor Ulrich Tukur at the Berliner Philharmonie in a literary concert celebrating Niccolò Paganini through stories, anecdotes, and music. He has performed with leading orchestras like the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester, Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, under esteemed conductors including Sebastian Weigle, Alexander Shelley, and Stanley Dodds.

His discography includes recordings with the Patagonia Express Trio alongside Argentinian pianist Gustavo Beytelmann, who toured with Astor Piazzolla, as well as solo performances of J.S. Bach’s Violin Sonatas and Paganini’s 24 Caprices. He is also a composer, having published his solo work Free Spirit, with a solo sonata in progress.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, he further honed his craft with Günter Pichler at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Oscar Bohórquez will release a duo album in 2025 with the renowned French pianist Frank Braley, one of the most remarkable pianists of his generation.

Booklet for Unexpected America