Search - Segovia, Fisk :: Canciones Populares

Expressive and intelligent playing

James Gram | Vermont | 08/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eliot Fisk plays beautifully on this recording. The choice of material is very interesting and refreshing and the interpretations are lively and intelligent as well as very romantic and beautiful. Fisk plays very appropriately for the music he selects, much of which falls solidly in the early 20th Century Segovia style. The Segovia arrangements of folk songs are not particularly challenging listening, but they are very enjoyable and often charming. The rest of the music provides a great introduction to some of the core Segovia repertoire that is not as well known today as, for instance, Sor, Giuliani, Tarrega, or Villa Lobos. In summation, the tone, technique, interpration, and musicality of these performances are all at an equally superlative level. The only drawback may be the odd occasional clicks in the recordings which do not necessarily correspond with any notes, and therefore are clearly a minor flaw in the recording rather than a fingernail or technique-related issue. This album is most definitely a worthwhile purchase."

Wonderful CD!

James Gram | 12/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful CD! @ a very nice price too! I must say that the recording could have been done better (hence, the 4 stars and the nice price.) But if you play classical guitar, then it will be a treat to hear this CD. Segovia was a genius when it came to composing for his beloved instrument and Fisk did a great job playing the material. I wish that the great recording guitarist like Fisk would treat us to more less-popular works such as the ones on this CD."

Almost Unlistenable

Redgecko | USA | 01/23/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"No kudos to Eliot Fisk are in order for allowing this recording to be released--both the recording quality and playing are abysmal. The noise is incredible on every track and not occasionally as one reviewer said (who obviously doesn't play guitar). The constant squeaking that you hear is Fisk's fingers sliding on the strings. The other deeper noise is Fisk breathing heavily! The best players can minimize this noise and the recording engineer, who is responsible for microphone placement, noise reduction and mastering is responsible for the rest. In this case, the bad playing and the bad recording work together to create the worst recorded guitar CD that I have ever heard. Shame on Eliot Fisk and John Taylor, the producer/engineer, for allowing the world premiere recording of these important works by Segovia to be spoiled in this manner. No wonder this recording went out-of-print so quickly and you can get it second-hand for less than $1, which is what I did. The only other recording of all of Segovia's Canciones Populares was by Gustav Mahler, which I have not heard.



Again, shame on Eliot Fisk for allowing this to be recorded, especially since he even received access to Andres Segovia's original manuscripts from Madame Emilia Segovia to make the recording.

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