(For Phoenix) [Apostolos Paraskevas] ...he sounds fantastic...his writing adventurous and modern! A triumphal return to recording! (Classical Guitar Magazine, July 2018) From the 2018 CD Recording PHOENIX available on CD an download at: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/apostolosparaskevas11 also available on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/phoenix/1376341757 Apostolos Paraskevas, Composer-Guitarist Julia Florida is a work by Paraguayan composer-guitarist Agustín Barrios Mangore (1885-1944), who earned the title “the Chopin of the Guitar” because of writing inspired romantic music. It was conceived in 1938, which was a difficult time for him, with his declining health and it was dedicated to his pupil Julia Martínez. Quoting John Williams: “... as a guitarist/composer, Barrios is the best of the lot, regardless of ear. His music is better formed, it's more poetic, it is more everything! And it's more of all those things in a timeless way. Julia Florida is a Barcarola - a style of music sung by the gondoliers in Venice, Italy or any music that is created in this style. Typically in 6/8 meter, it simulates the motion of the boat moving through the waves of the water with the rhythmic rowing of the gondolier. If I ever get there, I'm bringing my guitar!” Recording Engineer: James Donahue Editing-Sound/Video Engineering: Raziel Panic Recorded on January 11 and 14 of 2018 at the Shames Scoring Stage at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA U.S.A. Strings by D'Addario Pro.Arte Carbon Silver Sickle Productions, copyright by Apostolos Paraskevas, 2018. Phoenix, is the first commercial recording since Apostolos Paraskevas’ recovery of Focal Dystonia after he was struck to his right hand in 2009. He fully recovered in 2013 after 7,000 hours of work in re-constructing his technique. He was able to decode the condition as an unconscious behavioral habit and returned to performing professionally again. His article A Classical Guitarist's Story of Recovery from Focal Dystonia was published in London in the Classical Guitar Magazine in August 2013.