Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Isaac Albeniz, Domenico Scarlatti :: 300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces

Early in his career, already a great guitarist

Mike Shanahan | Honolulu, HI United States | 08/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I listened so often to Barrueco's version of "Granada" in my early days, that I discovered this charming fact: if you crank the volume way up at the end of the piece, you can actually hear a car horn honk in the background! At least that was true in the LP version, and frankly I'd be a little disappointed if it was cut out in the CD version. This is a lovely set of recordings. The Bach suites are elegant; 20 years ago it was a surprise to hear the lute suites ornamented so thoughtfully. As other commentators have already mentioned, the Albeniz and Granados music really stands out here. Barrueco actually observes the volume markings on such pieces as "Sevilla," playing the opening bars "piano" as marked in the score...a rare thing indeed. This recording was the first to make "Cataluna' a popular guitar piece (Barrueco sounds like Franz Liszt as he thunders through that composition), and the first to play "Cadiz" in the more comfortable key of A. Not surprisingly, his version of Albeniz's "Cuba" is genius. The "Spanish Dances" of Granados are equally a revelation. It was this recording that made Dance #4 a standard performance piece, a lovely folk-song melody. Anyway, this recording is a great bargain, and a good chance to hear a fine artist in his earlier years. Buy it, and see if that distant horn honk is still there during the final seconds of "Granada." I love it when life seeps in through the cracks of our beloved classical world. -Mike Shanahan"

Nothing better than this

B or second | switzerland | 08/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have had this CD (or parts of it from earlier records) for quiet a while. As a guitar lover and record collector, I judge these performances as the alpha and omega of guitaristic art. They are a world of their own, both in terms of interpretation and instrumental technique.

These recordings are from Manuel's earlier years as a performer. I find him better than on his more recent recordings, where he seems to have lost some youthful enthousiasm.

If you are interested in guitar music, not just the candelight type but prime art, this is the CD that will change your perspectives for ever."

Must have

B or second | 10/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sensitive performances of Granados and Albeniz pieces, absolutely flawless and balanced melodies and harmonies. Same for Villa Lobos Etudes: plays as if they were the easiest pieces ever written. Very well recorded, as well."