Search - Richard Savino, The Artaria Quartet :: Boccherini: Guitar Quintets, Vol. 2

Delightful music, gorgeous playing

Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 04/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Luigi Boccherini (1743 ? 1805): Guitar Quintets Vol. 2 (Quintets No. 1 thru 3, G. 445 ? 447; these are transcriptions by the composer of his piano quintets Op. 57, Nos. 4,5 and 2).

Performed by Richard Savino, guitar, and The Artaria Quartet (Elizabeth Blumenstock, Katherine Kyme, Anthony Martin and Elisabeth Le Guin).

Recorded in September, 1990, at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, California.

Harmonia Mundi. Re-issued in 2001 as HCX 3957039. Total time: 70?29?.



Having bought and thoroughly enjoyed Vol. 1 of this three-volume series with Boccherini?s eight guitar quintets played on period instruments, I had no hesitation in buying Vol. 2. And I was certainly not disappointed: the music here is equally delightful (?Lovely melodies spill forth unhindered?, R. Savino in the liner notes), the sound quality well-nigh perfect and the playing absolutely gorgeous. If you love the sound of the guitar and can imagine enjoying light, tuneful violin and cello playing along with it, this is definitely one for you. All three discs in the series belong to the highlights of my CD collection and even accompanied me to hospital while I was undergoing treatment for cancer in 2003 (although they can, of course, best be enjoyed on high-quality home stereo).

"