"Playing Barrios requires more than just excellent technique. The performer has to capture the darkness in the light passages, like a yearning in moments of gaiety..Also, capture the light in the dark passages, as a ray of optimissim in moments of sorrow. Ms Goni captures all these emotions profoundly in this highly recommended CD. The programme features rarely heard gems like Humouresque, Pepita, and the magical Tu y Yo. Her expressive phrasing often breathes new life into the often played works such as Maxixe, Junto a Tu Corazon, Vals no4. Romantic guitar music, with Latin American folkloric influence"
Barrios Defined
W. T. Hicok | Norfolk, VA USA | 07/07/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I should have written this years ago when I first got this recording. I host a half-hour program of music for guitar called Silver Moonbeams on WHRO FM 90.3 in Norfolk VA. I have all the Barrios recordings, and this is simply the best. Antigoni Goni knows and loves this music. Her timing and phrasing are superb. Her touch on the instrument is light and just right. In short, in my opinion, this is the very finest Barrios recording available. Many guitarists are competent, a few are brilliant and just a handful play music for the Gods. Antigoni Goni is definitely in the latter category."
Good Introduction to Barrios
M. Levitt - classical music buff | Philadelphia, PA | 03/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I got this and David Russell's Barrios CD about the same time. The Penguin Guide to CDs gives this CD a three star - outstanding - rating; they also rate John Williams' Barrios recordings highly, but don't mention the David Russell Barrios recording.
This is Volume 1 of a projected series of Barrios' guitar music. It is my first time hearing Antigoni Goni who is excellent, leading me to want to hear her other recordings as well as live in recital.
There isn't too much overlap between her and Russell in Barrios, making getting both CDs worth it if you like Barrios.
Excellent recording quality."
Expressing the psyche of classical guitar
Takis Konstantopoulos | Edinburgh, UK | 07/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Agustín Barrios Mangoré expresses the psyche of 20th century classical guitar with his magical compositions. Antigoni Goni expresses, through her ability to capture every single note, every little sound, every subtle harmonic, every little tremolo..., the psyche of Barrios music.
She is, as far as I can tell, the best interpreter of Barrios' music.
And, if the reader of this knows anything about his compositions, he or she should get hold of this CD. Sorrow disguised as happiness and gaiety rooted into sadness are clearly heard in Goni's recordings. Her playing is not just about feeling but about understanding what this brilliant music is about and how this unsurpassable instrument, the classical guitar, expresses it through Goni's fingers. I've heard Goni perform live, which is an experience, and this CD conveys it faithfully.
I agree with the previous reviewer that, in this CD, we find pieces rarely heard, like "villancico de Navidad" and "junto a tu corazón". I hope she will continue to record Barrios. I'd love to hear Barrios' last tremolo (una limosna por el amor de Dios), danza Guaraní and the sueño de la muñequita played by Antigoni Goni."