Search - Francisco Tarrega, Antonio Lauro, Vicente Emilio Sojo :: Five Centuries of Spanish Guitar

I can't believe i found this -

Freddy | CA, United States | 10/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe it - this is a great cd , if only for his versions of two venezuelan valses & variations on a theme from Motzart. The rest is awesome too - (I've treasured this tape since given to me by my guitar playing grandparent as a child - now I can keep enjoying it and pass it on too ). It only shows why Alirio Diaz (and keep in mind this recording is two generations old) is one of the greats). I guess I'll truly believe it when it's in my hands - ... !!!!"

Flawed recording of great artist

drollere | Sebastopol, CA United States | 12/27/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"when i was a teenager i had the highest esteem for alirio diaz, whom i admired more than segovia and almost as much as julian bream. unfortunately this disc is disappointing because of very poor engineering. the recording is bottom heavy, yet the high registers are badly distorted in forte passages. the balance from one piece to the next varies widely, as if assembled from different recording sessions -- even the balance within a single piece is not consistent. it sounds as if the disc was acoustically miked from an lp record. the playing is generally superb and sometimes spectacular, but there are also many flubs, buzzes and squeaks. for guitar fanatics this is an important historical testament, but for music lovers the three recordings originally released on vanguard records and also available on cd are the better choices."

Power of the Heart

Greg Garcia | Annapolis, MD USA | 04/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"40 or so so years after recording these pieces, Diaz's playing remains the most emotionally direct and honest of any I've heard. Where others may match his technical accuracy, they lack the heart -- the tug and punch and eloquence -- of what Spanish guitar is and what Diaz expresses."