Articles
Maria Rago’s New Album ‘Red Land’ Provides A Spectacular Musical Vista!
By staff writer of Just Fame
2.12.21
Just Fame is today reviewing the new album Red Land by Italian Pianist and Composer Maria Rago. Amazingly, Red Land provides an exceptional musical vista along with a surreal experience. The arrangements in tracks like Glimpse of a Dream, Splinters and Jumping Off are quite captivating. Whereas, Raining and Nightshade are just beautiful compositions. A Wild Horse stunningly showcases the contrast between the orchestral instruments and a solo electric guitar. The blending of the overall sound which it creates is just brilliant and ecstatic! Lastly, the title track Red Land is a magnificent composition and a truly riveting track that shows us what exactly the album is all about!
Overall, the album is catchy, tells quite a unique riveting musical story and the listener feels extremely emotional after listening to it.
Just Fame highly recommends this wonderful work of art for music lovers. Trust us, you will love this!
About the album: Red Land was born from the gaze on what surrounds us, a journey into the soul of a world that, like a tightrope, is pulled from opposite sides. If this CD could be represented with a color this would be red and this red is given to the biting song of the electric guitar. The guitar contrasts the orchestral mass and with its intense and burning character represents the rebellious singing.
About the artist: Maria Rago is an Italian pianist and composer and currently resides in Chicago, USA. She studied piano with Lea Cumbo at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali V.Bellini di Caltanissetta(Italy) from where she graduated. She studies composing from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Danse et de Musique de Lyon(France).
Her works have been performed in festivals and theaters throughout renowned venues in Europe and the US such as Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania (Italy), The Living Theatre in New York, Festival di Spoleto in Italy, Theatre du Rond Point des Champs Elysees in Paris, Theatre Les Ateliers in Lyon (France), Kleiner Konzertsaal-Gasteig in Munich (Germany), Selcuk Ephesus Festival in Turkey, and St. Petersburg International New Music Festival ”reMusik” in Russia.
Red Land is currently streaming on all major music streaming services: mariarago11.hearnow.com
Maria Rago is out with a brand new studio release: Red Land by: Andrea Caccese
1.26.2021
Maria Rago is an Italian expat currently based in Chicago, Illinois (USA). She is a skilled pianist and composer, and her songs have a unique charisma, and a very distinctive creative twist. Her music could be described as atmospheric, but also quite energetic, with a lot of spontaneity on tap. The artist’s most recent release is a project titled Red Land. Colorful, direct and unpredictable, this album feels like a fresh selection of spices, all working together in perfect harmony to create a unique sense of balance. This release allows many different styles to overlap - from the sophistication of progressive music, down to the nuanced appeal of compositional guitar, and pretty much anything in between. There are no boundaries to Maria Rago’s creativity, and this release is a testament to the artist’s willingness to set the bar higher and push music forward in terms of attitude and style. What stands out about Maria’s music is definitely the fact that she puts a lot of heart into her playing, using her instrumentation as an extension of herself. While she is very proficient technically, she also managed to set the bar higher in terms of how she combines her skills with her emotional and artistic vision in order to create something amazing.
Red Land is going to be a great musical match for fans of artists like Frank Zappa, Nino Rota, or Kaki King, so if you are into that kind of stuff, this one is for you!
Learn more about the talented Maria Rago, and do not miss out on Red Land, as well as other releases from this performer. This project is now available on all digital music streaming platforms.
An Exclusive interview with pianist and composer Maria Rago
7.23.2020
Maria Grazia Rago is an Italian pianist and composer. She studied piano with Lea Cumbo and Eliodoro Sollima and in Milan with Marcello Abbado and Bruno Canino. Her composition studies came at Conservatoire Supérieur de Danse et de Musique de Lyon, France. We decided to catch up with her for an exclusive interview with the National Post.
What inspired you to get into music?
Music has inside a world of expressing the inexpressible, drama, story, dream, tragedy, truth that we can’t see but we can hear and when it happens you’re hit but it leaves you without pain.
This is why I was inspired to get into music.
How would you describe your music?
It’s very difficult to describe my music.It’s like breathing, how you can explain the movement of the breath?
But if I try describe it…Inside every note, inside the rhythm is the heartbeat, the story of the people I met in the past, the people of the present and the imaginary people I will met in the future.
What would you say is your recording and song writing style?
Neoclassical. In the album “Burnt streets” that will be released in autumn I tried to mix the two languages: classic and rock.
I think the electric guitar is the voice of the world. Intense and burning.
Where would you like to see your music career in 5 years time?
Music is a journey and it’s a privilege to be inside it.We learn how to talk, we don’t learn how to listen. Listening to one another is important in order to grow and appreciate differences.Music tell us to do that.In the next 5 years time I see my career to continue to learn how to listen, to experiment new musical languages,to reach more people and to give voice to the unheard stories.
Where can music fans listen your music?
You can listen to my music via the links below;
Maria Rago
Website: www.mariarago.com
Facebook: mariaragomusic3
Instagram:@mariaragomusic
-Martin Szorad
bandzone.cz/yjmalmsteencoverband
youtube.com/user/ suzinabxvcb
Interview with Pianist and Composer Maria Rago: by Alfred Munoz
7.20.2020
Maria Grazia Rago is an Italian pianist and composer. She studied piano with Lea Cumbo and Eliodoro Sollima. She continue her musical education in Rome with Bruno Canino and in Milan with Marcello Abbado. Her composition studies came at the Conservatorie National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon in France. In 2008 she moved to the USA.
When did you discover your love for your craft and what made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in it?
I loved music from a young age, but at the age of 24, I realized I would love to be a musician and started to attend music school.
To what or whom do you accredit your sense of style?
Among all the composers, I love Bach, the Russian composers (Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Stravinsky, Prokofiev) and also the french Ravel and the estonian Arvö Part.
On your current project, how did you come up with the concept?
In this project, I mixed the two styles, rock and contemporary classic and I gave the electric guitar the lead. I think this instrument has a powerful voice that reflects our society.
What are some of your greatest challenges, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?
To write music it’s a very mysterious process. You have an idea but in the end, the notes control your ideas. Soon you create them, they are able to breathe and live without you. Every time a part of you is gone with them. You are like a mosaic with a missing piece.
So you go back to write to find the missing piece, it’s an endless process, where they are free and you are alone. My greatest attribute when it comes to my work ethic is giving voice to those who have no voice. I believe music has the power to change the consciences and to overcome barriers and limits.
Are you the best at what you do in your opinion?
I’m a very curious person. I love to know different stories and people. I think I will never stop learning and listen. So, for this reason, it’s very hard to say if I’m the best in what I’m doing, but definitely I try my best.
What are your plans for the near future?
I’m working for a new CD -“Burnt streets”- and I’m writing a piece of music for a film that will be released in fall 2020.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank, any shout outs?
I would like to thank my friends who support me, but my special thanks go to the love of my life, my husband and my son.
How can fans find you?
Website:www.mariaragomusic.com
facebook:mariaragomusic3
Instagram:@mariaragomusic
What suggestions do you have for other artist like yourself?
Work hard, be curious, love what you’re doing and never stop learning, and remember that be a musician is a privilege!
Martin Szorad and Maria Grazia Rago – “Burnt Streets” – a minor masterpiece!
7.11.2020
Born in Sicily, Maria Grazia Rago is an Italian pianist and composer, who now resides in Illinois USA. She initially studied piano with Lea Cumbo and Eliodoro Sollima, and then continued her musical education in Rome with Bruno Canino and Marcello Abbado. Her composition studies came at the Conservatoire National Superieur De Musique Et Danse De Lyon in France. The award-winning composer’s works have been performed in festivals and theaters throughout the world. Martin Szorad is a guitarist from the Czech Republic. He has been playing guitar for 16 years. He plays guitar, bass guitar and piano. Together, Maria Grazia Rago, Martin Szorad and the Amadeus Academy Orchestra have completed a single, entitled “Burnt Streets”, which is taken from the album “On The Road”.
Maria Grazia Rago
This is a minor masterpiece, as Burnt Streets fuse their own otherworldly techniques, and create this killer blend of classical, fusion and metal. The music is stunning as they capture the essence of classical renaissance ensembles, cinematic moods, and pyrotechnical guitar shredding.
This is a highly accessible, yet gloriously epic song, containing everything you love about dynamic orchestrated arrangements, and impacting electric guitar driven rock.
But other than shredding the strings, and sonic bombast, Martin Szorad and Maria Grazia Rago haven’t forgotten the major component of a working studio song: structure, flow, and atmosphere. The two complement and complete each other’s musical vision. The speed and energy is mostly confined in Szorad’s solos, but the ensemble’s playing and songwriting is full with a confident and diverse approach.
In fact “Burnt Streets” oscillates between the energetic metal power of Martin Szorad licks and riffs, and the kinetic string progressions designed by Maria Grazia Rago. The song also benefits from a very well balanced and dynamic production thanks to watchful eyes and ears.
The overall consistency both in the songwriting and delivery makes “Burnt Streets” a quality and well refined chapter in both Rago and Szorad’s discographies. It should not only enjoy groundbreaking contemporary neo-classical status, but also undeniable power metal excellence.
Martin Szorad
Szorad wastes no time, as the track kicks off with him progressively moving towards shredding. This songs transmits a great deal of energy to the listener – the guitars, and string orchestrations blend perfectly together.
“Burnt Streets” is also one of those tracks that catches your attention quickly, as the thundering guitar riffs find the pockets inside Maria Grazia Rago’s compositional template. This track isn’t just about what a superb composer Rago is, or what a virtuoso guitar player Szorad is; it’s a testament to human ingenuity and the progressive thinkers who push music to new heights by refusing to adhere to mediocre mainstream status quos or pre-boxed genre labels.
“Burnt Streets” is about smashing through the boundaries of predetermined demographics for the advancement of music. There is no way you can listen to this track and not be in awe of musicians like Martin Szorad and Maria Grazia Rago, who boldly reach out of their comfort zone, for the sake of music.
OFFICIAL LINKS:
Maria Rago
www.mariaragomusic.com
facebook:@mariaragomusic3
instagram:@mariaragomusic
Martin Szorad
bandzone.cz/yjmalmsteencoverband
youtube.com/user/suzinabxvcb