klo58 | Oconomowoc, Wisconsin United States | 05/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These 2 CD's are packed with such a range of emotion. Christopher Parkening plays straight from the heart and the listener will be inspired. If you are looking for beautiful classical guitar music do not pass this one up. You can not possibly be dissatisfied. If you are a classical guitarist you will marvel at how effortless he makes it sound. Sophisticated listener or not you will definitely love this collection. This is not music, this is ART!!"
"In guitar ` s playing there have been many renowned performers, gifted of exuberant technique. But curiously the Apollonian playing is not by itself strictly enough. The guitar is the instrument which is closer to heart as any other one. It demands from you passion and sentiment. There have been three well known guitarists, one of them from England and the other one from Spain and the third one from Japan whose sensibility was totally absent in their performances.
But fortunately for us, there have been notable interpreters that have been maintained a desired balance and contrast between brain and heart, achieving great distinction and total acknowledgement around the world. I would name eight primordial names along the instrument `s story. First of all: the mythic soloist Andres Segovia, Agustin Barrios (El Indio Mangore),Regino Sainz de la Maza, John Williams, Alirio Diaz, Manuel Berrueco, Siegfried Behrend and Christopher Parkening, among the most representative ones of a great list.
Christopher Parkening `s career has made a brilliant colorist, an impeccable and sensitive interpreter of this well reduced repertoire. His profound artistic conviction and convincing phrasing has been a perpetual motive of constant invitations and presentations around the world.
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Simply Incredible
Hiram Gomez Pardo | 12/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A friend recommended this CD set to me after I mentioned that I enjoyed classical music. I was blown away when I heard it--I had never heard anyone play guitar like this. Parkening's use of the guitar more closely resembles a harp or harpsicord, but not a six-stringed instrument. I cannot think of enough superlatives to describe these CDs. Buy them, you won't be disappointed."