Joaquín Rodrigo; Manuel Ponce; Luigi Boccherini - Guitar Concertos (Andrés Segovia)

Information

Composer: Joaquín Rodrigo; Manuel Ponce; Luigi Boccherini

1. (01-04) Rodrigo - Fantasía para un gentilhombre
2. (05-07) Ponce - Concierto del Sur
3. (08-10) Boccherini - Cello Concerto No. 6 in D major, G 479 (arr. as Guitar Concerto in E major by Gaspar Cassadó)

Andres Segovia, guitar
Symphony of the Air
Enrique Jordá, conductor

Date: 1958 (1-7), 1961 (8-10)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/cat/4744252

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Review

This attractive disc, volume I of Deutsche Grammophon's Segovia Collection, contains the Spanish (Andalusian, to be more precise) master's performances of three guitar concertos: Joaquín Rodrigo's Fantasía para un gentilhombre, Luigi Boccherini's Concerto in E major, and Manuel Ponce's Concierto del sur. Listening to Segovia play with the orchestra is a particularly rewarding experience, as his solo playing often evokes the richness of an instrumental ensemble. For example, in his interpretation of Rodrigo's work, Segovia employs his extraordinary sonic palette to blend into the rich orchestration and sonic imagery, also entering into a dialogue with particular instruments of the orchestra. However, there is an indescribable quality in Segovia's playing that clearly establishes the guitar as a dominant voice in this work. Indeed, one only has to listen to the solo part to fully experience the elegance, gentle melancholy, and archaic majesty of Rodrigo's Concierto. Segovia's multi-faceted virtuosity is perfectly suited for the bright energy, expansive lyricism, and subtle exoticism of Ponce's concerto, a work that offers Segovia an opportunity to explore the immense sonic resources of the guitar. Equally extraordinary is his performance of Boccherini's Concerto in E major, a transcription by the great Spanish cellist Gaspar Cassado of a cello concerto in D major. According to the liner notes, Cassado's transcription was inspired by Segovia's performance of two guitar concertos. By transforming a charming cello concerto into an exquisite work for guitar, in the limpid sonority of E major, Cassado created a unique work of art. Even excellent performances of the cello concerto are no match for Segovia, whose impeccable playing captures the gentle, refined essence of Boccherini's music.

-- Zoran Minderovic, AllMusic

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Joaquín Rodrigo (November 22, 1901 – July 6, 1999) was a Spanish composer and a virtuoso pianist. Rodrigo studied music with Francisco Antich and Paul Dukas, and musicology with Maurice Emmanuel and André Pirro. Rodrigo's music is among the most popular music of the 20th century. In particular, his Concierto de Aranjuez, composed in 1939, is considered one of the pinnacles of Spanish music and of the guitar concerto repertoire. None of Rodrigo's works, however, achieved the popular and critical success of the Concierto de Aranjuez and the Fantasia para un gentilhombre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaqu%C3%ADn_Rodrigo

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Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar (8 December 1882 – 24 April 1948) was a Mexican composer active in the 20th century. His work as a composer, music educator and scholar of Mexican music connected the concert scene with a usually forgotten tradition of popular song and Mexican folklore. Many of his compositions are strongly influenced by the harmonies and form of traditional songs. Ponce's guitar music is a core part of the instrument's repertory. He wrote the guitar concerto Concierto del sur, which is dedicated to his long-time friend and guitar virtuoso Andrés Segovia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Ponce

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Andrés Segovia (21 February 1893 – 2 June 1987) was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Spain. Regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, he is seen as the grandfather of the classical guitar. Many professional classical guitarists today are students of Segovia, or students of his students. Segovia's contribution to the modern-romantic repertoire not only included commissions but also his own transcriptions of classical or baroque works. He is remembered for his expressive performances: his wide palette of tone, and his distinctive musical personality, phrasing and style.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Segovia

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