Description: DG has put together a fascinating compilation of Segovia's art that reminds us what a protean figure he was. Segovia single-handedly put the instrument on the map by making classical guitar concerts popular events, broadening the instrument's repertory through commissions and transcriptions, and convincing even doubters that it could be a vehicle for serious music. He's heard here in brief pieces recorded between 1952 and 1969. Even in those made when he was well into his 70s, his fingers remain nimble and interpretations lively. Listening straight through, one hears many all-time Segovia favorites as Turina's Sevillana and Albeniz's Asturias and Zambra Granadina and renews appreciation for path-breaking composers like Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He wrote extensively for Segovia and his Capriccio diabolico and Tonadilla are pieces of real substance. Disc two is largely made up transcriptions and it's amazing how well so many of them work on the guitar, at least under Segovia's magic fingers. Thus the transformations of Bach's violin music and even a Chopin Prelude sound idiomatic, and the gorgeous melodies of the Canzonetta from Mendelssohn's Op. 12 String Quartet are irresistible here. An entrancing set. --Dan Davis
Details: This is an excellent CD to introduce yourself to Segovia or to have a nice collection of many of his better works. The Guitar is well recorded given the era in which it was recorded.
Highly recommended!
Review Summary: The Great One
Date: 2008-09-30
Details: The rare moments of solace I find these days are usually in the company of Segovia, but considering that so much has been said about this guy in the last sixty years, it's hard to add anything else without sounding superfluous.
Review Summary: The Immortal Segovia
Date: 2008-08-05
Details: Segovia is for purists. He's not a showman, but rather he's the most authentic performer of classical Spanish guitar that you will find. This CD contains a generous number of selections that provide a tour of styles and time periods. The artist's competence is apparent as he makes the difficult sound relatively simple. He never seems overwhelmed by the challenges of the music, but instead it the master. Whether you are looking for sophisticated background music (some would consider this use a sacrilege) or for a front row seat at a home concert, this CD would be a great addition to your collection. Perhaps he will inspire you to bring forth greater sounds from your old wide-necked guitar!
Review Summary: Great Sound Quality; Great Value
Date: 2008-07-28
Details: The 24-bit remastering of these analog recordings from the 1950s and 60s is outstanding. Both disks are chock-full at almost 80 minutes each, and there are a good many songs you don't hear every day. Forty of the 41 tracks are solos, while a short Rodrigo orchestral movement concludes the set. Good liner notes are included. There is only a slight overlap between this 2-CD set and Deutsche Grammophon's 4-CD box set, "The Segovia Collection." I own over 40 classical guitar CDs, and this is easily among my favorites.
Review Summary: Rich and Romantic
Date: 2008-04-29
Details: Segovia lovers are going to like this one. A wonderful collection. A lot of pieces I never heard before. This collection is a real treasure.
out of 13 Reviews
