Search - Isaac Albeniz, Enrique Granados, Luis de Milan :: Segovia: The American Decca Recordings, Vol 1 [Box Set]

It's about time

someone like me | 06/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I told my guitar teacher about this, he said it's about time they did this.



It's difficult to understand why the release of these performances in their

original context is so important until you hear them. You'll be able to hear

clearly that these albums were planned as recorded recitals and flow in a way

that makes sense. Also, because the sound of each album is consistent throughout

the entire album, you'll more easily be able to sit down and pay attention to an

entire album in the same way you would to a play or a movie. Previous anthologies

had mixed recordings of different sessions and even eras and made it difficult

to listen through 15 minutes or more of music at a time. This collection is a

very different listening experience from previous CD anthologies. I felt like I

was rediscovering Segovia's genius."

Absolutely outstanding in every respect

jsa | San Diego, CA United States | 09/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Instead of taking advantage of the 80 minutes or so that can be squeezed onto a cd, the producers of this box set elected to reproduce, on a one for one basis, the first six LP's that Andres Segovia recorded for Decca Records. This approach respects the artist's thematic plan for each LP as it was recorded, recognizing that an album is a sum of its individual parts & not just a collection of randomly chosen pieces. Not only that, each cd jacket in this set reproduces the front & back cover of the original album - in this case some great 1950's era modern art. This is absolutely the way this music should be reissued & the way prospective purchasers should acquire it.



Despite this, I bought this box set with some trepidation in that I had recently purchased the four-cd anthology "Segovia Collection" (DGG) & worried that there might be a lot of duplication between the sets. Both consist of sides Segovia recorded for Decca, now part of the Universal Music Group (as is DGG), & where Segovia spent his recording career from the mid-1940's until his death in 1987. The good news is that only two tracks from the six cd Decca set appear in the "Segovia Collection"; and if Universal continues to issue the Segovia material in consecutive order as it appears on this new set, which seems to be their intention as it is titled "The American Decca Recordings 1," then I'll replace the anthology with the new reissues.



In any event, the first cd in this set was recorded in 1944, & then eight years elapsed until the next recordings were made - in fact, three albums which were set down over several sessions in April of 1952 when Segovia was in New York. The fifth & sixth cd's were recorded in April-May, 1954, again in Decca's New York studio. Each album was recorded in mono & while the guitar isn't quite as rich or full sounding as Segovia's later stereo recordings, the remastered sound is nevertheless outstanding.



The music & guitar playing is self-recommending & I urge anyone considering buying a Segovia anthology to start with this set & continue picking up the Decca box sets if/when they are issued.

"

An essential release

David P. Gillett | New York | 06/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I concur with the review by "someone like me" - these recordings have the flow of a recital. The remastered sound is also a substantial improvement over prior cd releases of these pieces: detailed, yet warm sounding. The track lists, the inimitable performances, and the original album art in mini-sleeves, combine to make this a real treat."