Baroque Milos Karadaglic

• Domenico Scarlatti (1685 - 1757): Sonata in D Minor, K. 32:
• 1Scarlatti: Sonata in D Minor, K. 32 (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)02:52
• Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741): Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, RV 439 "La Notte":
• 2Vivaldi: Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, RV 439 "La Notte": VI. Allegro (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)02:16
• Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683 - 1764): The Arts and the Hours:
• 3Rameau: The Arts and the Hours (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)05:15
• Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759): Suite in B-Flat Major, HWV 434:
• 4Händel: Suite in B-Flat Major, HWV 434: IV. Menuet (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)04:07
• Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in B Minor, RV 580:
• 5Vivaldi: Concerto in B Minor, RV 580: I. Allegro (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)03:53
• Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1687 - 1750): Passacaglia:
• 6Weiss: Passacaglia03:36
• Domenico Scarlatti: Sonata in F Minor, K. 466:
• 7Scarlatti: Sonata in F Minor, K. 466 (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)05:12
• Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in B Minor, RV 580:
• 8Vivaldi: Concerto in B Minor, RV 580: III. Allegro (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)03:21
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Partita No. 2 in D Major, BWV 1004:
• 9Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Major, BWV 1004: Chaconne15:11
• Alessandro Marcello (1673 - 1747): Concerto in D Minor:
• 10Marcello: Concerto in D Minor: II. Adagio03:42
• Luigi Boccherini (1743 - 1805): Quintet No. 4 in D Major, G 448:
• 11Boccherini: Quintet No. 4 in D Major, G 448: IV. Fandango03:50
• Sylvius Leopold Weiss: Fantasie:
• 12Weiss: Fantasie02:20
• François Couperin (1668 - 1733): Les Barricades mystérieuses:
• 13Couperin: Les Barricades mystérieuses03:43
• Antonio Vivaldi: Trio Sonata in C Major, RV 82:
• 14Vivaldi: Trio Sonata in C Major, RV 82: II. Larghetto (Arr. for Guitar by Michael Lewin)03:51
• Total Runtime01:03:09

Info for Baroque

MILOŠ’ is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional guitarists of our time. His technical skill, emotional depth and musical sensitivity are unmatched, and he has earned critical praise and numerous awards for his recordings ranging from Bach to The Beatles. After his meteoric rise to international classical music stardom 12 years ago with chart topping albums and sold-out performances around the world, 2023 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Miloš extraordinary career. For his first album on Sony Music, MILOS has chosen a collection of Baroque works. At times thrillingly virtuosic, at others deeply meditative, he gives his own spin to music by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Rameau and more.

The superstar musician who has led today’s classical guitar revival, begins a new era in his exceptional career with a debut album for Sony Classical. Titled simply Baroque, the album presents MILOŠ’ carefully curated selection of baroque works especially transcribed and arranged for the guitar, both solo and in collaboration with Jonathan Cohen and his ensemble ‘Arcangelo’.

Since his incredible breakthrough in 2011, when his debut album held the no. 1 position in the UK Classical charts for a breathtaking 28 weeks, MILOŠ has built an impressive international career by performing solo recitals and concertos at most of the world’s leading concert venues. His six studio albums have sold the equivalent of over half a million copies and conquered the classical album charts in multiple territories, earning him a Classical BRIT, Echo Klassik and two Gramophone Awards. Not to mention worldwide critical acclaim, BBC Music Magazine included him in “Six of the Best Classical Guitarists of the Past Century” and The New York Times cited him as “one of the most exciting and communicative classical guitarists today.” His wide variety of musical influences and repertoire, ranging from baroque to contemporary music, via the Beatles and beyond, has helped MILOŠ build a loyal international fanbase and introduce his instrument to a whole new generation of listeners. His long list of musical collaborators ranges from Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Lisa Batiashvili, Alison Balsom, and Jess Gillam, to Tori Amos, Gregory Porter and Anoushka Shankar. He was the first-ever classical guitarist to perform a sold-out solo show at the Royal Albert Hall, where he returned last summer playing to a capacity audience. He has presented on both BBC and Sky TV and has his own series of educational books “Play Guitar with Miloš” published by Schott Music. He recently launched the “Miloš Karadaglić Foundation”- based in Porto Montenegro – this philanthropic organisation aims to act as a regional hub of influence by empowering artistic excellence though various educational opportunities, partnership and close mentorship.

Baroque heralds a new milestone in MILOŠ’ career. “Since the very beginning of my life as a musician, I have been deeply inspired by the incredible variety and electrifying energy of the baroque repertoire. This golden era of music is mysterious and extraordinary, flamboyant, often endlessly lyrical, ultimately timeless. And yet within the classical guitar context, apart from J.S. Bach, I believe we have only ever managed to touch the surface. This very thought inspired me to, over the years, try and dig deeper, go beyond the obvious, experiment, collaborate and transcribe, to open a new door of possibilities for my instrument and its own baroque voice”.

MILOŠ’s own transcription of Bach’s monumental Chaconne sits at the heart of this recording, anchoring the richly varied constellation of baroque composers’ masterpieces. MILOŠ particularly wanted to present the guitar across a wide range of European influences, and not merely within the more familiar Spanish context. He has selected luminescent works by nine composers here, the majority of which have never been played on solo guitar before.

There is plenty of light and shade within the music, reflecting baroque’s unique chiaroscuro character. Works such as Alessandro Marcello’s Adagio from Oboe Concerto in D Minor; Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata in D minor; the Menuet from George Frideric Handel’s Suite in B-Flat Major; Jean-Philippe Rameau’s The Arts and the Hours or François Couperin’s Les Barricades mystérieuses offer more introspective moments, while Antonio Vivaldi’s movements from La Notte and L’estro Armonico, originally written as a concerto for 4 violins, or indeed Boccherini’s Fandango from Quintet No. 4 in D Major provide fireworks of thrilling virtuosity.

MILOŠ worked very closely with Jonathan Cohen on all the orchestral transcriptions, as well as with Michael Lewin, the eminent British guitarist and lutenist with whom he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and with whom he now shares a wonderful creative collaboration.

“Everything I have learned and experienced in my musical life so far, all the influences and various musical traditions, converge in this album” says MILOŠ. “I wanted to convey a new vision of baroque here, with all the variety of style and texture, while preserving the innate intimacy and typical beauty of the guitar sound.”

Milos Karadaglic, guitar
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen, conductor

Miloš Karadaglić
Born in Montenegro in 1983, Miloš Karadaglic began playing the guitar at the age of eight and quickly won national recognition for his performances. At 16 he was awarded a scholarship to London’s Royal Academy of Music where he studied with Michael Lewin, graduated with First Class Honours in 2004, and went on to complete a Masters degree in Performance. Subsequently he was made a Meaker Junior Fellow – the first guitarist to be given this accolade at the RAM.

2005 - Awarded the “Julian Bream Prize”, adjudicated by the maestro himself

2006 - His performance at London’s Wigmore Hall as a winner of the Maisie Lewis Young Artist Platform is acclaimed by Classical Guitar Magazine: “It is not very often that this sort of thing happens: where the forces of violin and piano, complete with centuries of repertoire and exuberance, are outmanoeuvred by the charm and eloquence of a single classical guitar.”

2007 - Receives the “Prince’s Prize” given by HRH Prince Charles and the Silver Medal of London’s venerable Worshipful Company of Musicians, the first guitarist ever to win these prestigious awards

2008 - Recitals at the Lucerne Festival and in London, Windsor and other venues in England

2009 - Concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Concierto de Aranjuez); recitals include Amsterdam, Rome, Switzerland and London’s Spitalfields Festival

2010 - Concerto engagements in London, Leeds and Singapore; recitals include Wigmore Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus with Rolando Villazón, Schloss Elmau (Germany), the Gstaad (Menuhin), Cheltenham, Spitalfields, iTunes (London) and Norwich festivals, as well as St. Martin-in-the Fields and Southampton, Bristol and Scotland

2011 - Signs exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon – his debut album, a personal musical tour of the Mediterranean, is being released this year. Recital plans include appearances at the Wigmore Hall, in Munich, at Schloss Elmau and at the Brighton and Boca Raton (Florida) festivals

Booklet for Baroque