Cancion, by Carlos Rafael Rivera

“Canción,” a luminous and intimate work by Emmy® Award–winning and GRAMMY® Award–winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera. The track will be available worldwide on all major streaming platforms and is featured on her upcoming album Rojo, released under the boutique classical music label Prima Classic.
Rivera is internationally celebrated for his emotionally powerful and stylistically versatile scores for film and television. A multiple Emmy® Award winner and GRAMMY® Award recipient, he is widely recognized for his acclaimed work on major productions including The Queen’s Gambit and Godless, as well as numerous other film and television projects that have established him as one of the most compelling musical voices of his generation. Alongside his screen career, Rivera has maintained a strong presence in the concert world, composing chamber, orchestral, and solo works that reveal the same lyrical depth found in his dramatic scores.
Originally composed in 2001 as a personal “gift of thanks” to film director Tom Shadyac, Canción occupies a special place in Rivera’s catalogue. Though the piece evokes a nostalgic or folkloric atmosphere, Rivera notes that it contains no borrowed folk melodies or rhythmic patterns. Instead, its emotional core lies in discovery.
“It is one of those rare pieces that felt as if it had already been written, and I just happened to fortunately stumble upon it,” Rivera reflects. “It is meant to be a lyrical miniature, a simple song without the distraction of complex counterpoint, where the melody dictates the emotional truth.”
Especially meaningful to this release is Franqui’s work on the piece alongside renowned guitarist Scott Tennant, who has long been a passionate champion of Canción. This artistic connection adds further depth to the interpretative lineage of the work.
Rivera shares his enthusiasm for Franqui’s interpretation:
“I am thrilled to hear Laura Mazon Franqui’s interpretation of Canción. She captures the intimacy of this ‘found’ melody beautifully, breathing new life into the work with a performance that is both nostalgic and luminous.”
For Franqui, the connection to Canción is deeply personal:
“Canción is a wonderful work for guitar that truly speaks to my heart. There is something magical about its melody — the way it unfolds and the places it takes you. It is incredible that all of that happens within just one page of music. Perhaps because it is so intimate and ‘pure,’ it evokes a sense of nostalgia in me".