Search - Fernando Sor :: Sor: Grandes Sonates, Opp. 22 & 25

I like Sor, but this music simply isn't good

Ramon Kranzkuper | Gainesville, FL | 06/22/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I like Sor. In fact, in classical guitar, I like Sor more than I like Tarrega and Aguada. But the music on this album is simply dull and uninspiring. When I saw the title - "Grandes Sonates" - I thought I was in for a treat, as in "Sonatas, and that, by Sor!" - but the music disappointed. In addition to the sonatas, the other pieces are dull and lifeless as well. I definitely can't attribute this to the guitarist - it's just that the music isn't good. Just sounds like a beginning classical guitarist trying out a few tunes. No emotion, no passion, nothing whatsoever. I give it 2 stars instead of 1 because, well, the music is somewhat soothing, and gives kind of a nice ambience to the room."

Piquant and charming

Steven E. Bornfeld | Brooklyn, NY | 02/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Grandes Sonates Op. 22 and 25 are probably heard less frequently than many of Sor's smaller-scale works, but they deserve to be heard. Anyone not charmed by the second movement (allegro non troppo) is a harder person than I.

Holzman does a terrific job with these--his phrasing and articulation are wonderful. This disc has the typical Naxos dry acoustic, and the miking is pretty close. I think this works well here, even on a modern guitar.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable recording."

Softly-Played Sor

David Conklin | Albuquerque, NM USA | 02/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After reading the wide spectrum of opinion expressed by the 3 previous reviewers, I decided to try this disc for myself. I had already purchased most of the other Sor (solo) discs on Naxos. Adam Holzman plays these pieces quite softly. Perhaps he is playing--as did Sor himself--without use of right-hand nails. However his effect is achieved, the music has a consistently gentle quality. While not as expressive as it might be otherwise, I certainly find his playing soothing and almost mesmerizing (my cat loves this CD). Another plus is that these works--two lengthy sonatas (Op. 22 & 25) and several short piece comprising Op. 23 & 24--all flow together nicely; in this respect, it's perhaps better than most other CDs in this series. Musically, these works shouldn't disappoint in the least--to me, they're all typical, high-quality Sor."