From a young age, the pianist Albert Cano Smit has followed an unconventional musical path. Born in Geneva to a Spanish father and a Dutch mother, he left his family at the age of seven to join the Escolania de Montserrat, the oldest boys' choir in the world. In this extraordinary environment, he received rigorous musical training that shaped his unique approach to the piano, where expressiveness, discipline, and boldness intertwine. This boldness is evident in his debut album, where he takes on a monumental work of the baroque repertoire, The Art of Fugue, a daring challenge.

Following his immersion in the unique atmosphere of Montserrat, an intellectual stronghold where music has been transmitted and shaped since the Middle Ages, Albert Cano Smit developed a fascination with counterpoint. The Art of Fugue then became an obvious choice. Rarely recorded on piano, this masterpiece by Bach, with its scholarly and intricate writing, reveals a stunning beauty. Recording it at Montserrat makes perfect sense: in this historically rich location, the young pianist aims to offer a vivid and sensitive interpretation.

Often seen as an intellectual exercise, Bach's masterpiece proves to be deeply moving. The very nature of this work remains mysterious: it is unknown whether it was meant to be performed, on which instrument, or even if it is complete. This element of the unknown gives the performer great freedom, turning each interpretation into a personal quest.

« It's a musical puzzle to which your ear holds on to and that has some emotional weight to it ».

Albert Cano Smit