Julia A. Lambson | Redlands, California USA | 04/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a professional classical guitarist, and have been in love with this particular recording from the beginning of my student years. This has been the first of many CDs in my guitar collection and still ranks as my all around favorite.
Zanon's technical virtuosity is only second to his musicality. It should also be noted that this recording is historically important as he studied the original manuscripts in Villa-Lobos' writing in a museum in Brazil first hand, whereas the widely available sheetmusic has been altered by publishers. Simply the best!!!!!"
The definitive Villa Lobos recording
TIARAJU ARONOVICH | Los Angeles, California United States | 02/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fabio Zanon presents an amazing work with this CD. After researching for a long time and having in hands the fac-similes written by Villa Lobos himself, Zanon released what has now become a reference in the musical world. I have to say that I have at least five recordings of this same repertoire. All of them are good, but cannot be compared to Fabio Zanon's recording. This is INDEED the definitive recording of these works. A MUST-HAVE for guitarists and guitar lovers!"
A must for guitar/Villa-Lobos fans
TIARAJU ARONOVICH | 10/15/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fabio Zanon is on the short list of up and coming guitar greats, the Barrueco/Williams of his generation. He is a phenominal technician, a sensative and intuitive interpreter, and a superb musicologist. A native of Brazil, he gives a very insightful reading of the V-L guitar works. Of special note is the performance of the newly unearthed original version of the Douze Etudes."
Finally a man who has fully grasped Villa-Lobos!
O. Burak Okan | Cambridge, MA USA | 10/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Brazilian culture, among all other things, is complex. The melanchony of the Portugese heritage forms a stark contrast to the sheer energy of South America and they are fused in a unique way to form what we call Brasil today. All of this intertwined ambivalency is what really distinguishes Villa Lobos`s music from the rest. However, people don`t seem to get this point or at least easily overlook it. The former players; encapsulated by the sterile environment of concert halls, have conspiciously filtered out the street music influences from the Brazilian folk culture which is right at the heart of this eminent composer`s works. Now, at last, there is a guy who has thoroughly studied over what Villa Lobos has left behind and made a record which would easily define a benchmark for all other guitarists.
If you are really passionate about Villa-lobos, listening this will be a rewarding experience for you. This one is a real keeper!"