Customer Reviews

Air on a G String

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
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I had the radio on and wasn't really listening but suddenly my ears perked up to some absolutely beautiful guitar playing. I ran to get pad and paper so I could write down who this was. Turns out they were interviewing David Russell...better yet, he was in town for a concert! I ordered tickets and ended up in Row 6 in the middle. I was enthralled by the mastery and lyrical beauty of his playing. I bought this CD at intermission because it contains the piece that I first heard that morning, "Mysterious Barricade" (David commented during his performance that no one knows why the composer called it "mysterious"). Also on the CD is a moving performance of "Air on a G-String" (in D) that is also worth the price of this CD. For anyone who remembers Julian Bream's prolific career in which he generated virtuoso guitar music of excellence year after year, this guy is every bit as good.

After hearing a selection from this CD on NPR, I knew I had to purchase a copy. I bought a copy for myself and also as a gift. David Russell takes his guitar to a place that touches your soul and makes your heart sing along. Even if you are not a fan of classical music you will love this CD.

I first heard this CD on pubic radio and knew I had to have it. I was not disapointed. This is truly beautiful music--

I had to laugh when I read other reviews of this album because I, too, heard part of it completely by accident when I switched on our local classical music station one morning (it was Jacques De Saint-Luc's "La Prise de Gaeta") and quickly scrambled to get a pen and paper to write down the name of the musician and the piece before it was over, such was the immediate impression the music made on me. In fact, I'm listening to it now as I write this review. The selection of songs was well thought out, mixing pieces by Bach with wonderful works by other baroque composers who aren't as well known to most of us as JSB. The music selected is beautiful throughout and, it seems to me, excellently performed. I am not a trained musician, so I can't describe it in technical terms, but every note seems very cleanly played and delivered with just the right touch. This is a fluid and extremely pleasing performance of a very interesting selection of beautiful baroque pieces.

I have been listening to this CD for as long as it has been out. David Russell is a uniquely talented guitarist and I have enjoyed each part of his offerings. I have another of his CDs, and am amazed at his versatility--it is from a totally different musical era drawing on completely different talents and interpretation. This CD may be on the top of my most favorite list for a long time.

This music and the playing is so incredible here. The music technicality is so unbelievable with all of the trills and embellishments (especially the Couperin) I don't know how any guitarist could pull this off. And David Russell has complete control of his tone and volume. He can keep his tone consistent and he has a very intuitive sense of the loudness/softness throughout these pieces. The Bach and Weiss and the others are all very interesting and wonderful compositions. All of the counterpoint flows wonderfully together - you would think that there were two guitars playing. Russell plays Baroque better than any other guitarist I've heard - I knew he was great with the South American and Spanish compositions but I didn't expect this. I have all of Russell's other fantastic recordings but this is at the top of the list.

Great music. Great sound. The guitar is so clean and precise, no finger squeaks and such, I forget I am listening to a guitar, just wonderful music. Great selection of composers.

Pandora radio plays tracks from his CD often, and every time he was being played, I loved what I was hearing. So I decided to buy the CD. Unbeatable selection of songs, played extremely well. If you like baroque guitar, you'll love this CD.

Excellent guitarist. I prefer David Russell to all - and I mean all - of the more famous artists. No squeaks, nothing ponderous or twangy, never so fast that the music gets lost, always in touch with the essence of the music. This disc has a fine selection of works, nothing tiresome. No Sor. I've bought copies for my sister and friends I know have especially discriminating ears.

As usual, Russell's technique is flawless and he brings to life the guitar arrangements of the Baroque songs with his energetic and tender interpretations.
The order in which the songs are presented is perfect, ending with the Air on a G String, and balanced between the allegro and the largo so that by the end of the CD, the listener is back in a slower and gentler time. I have never bought a David Russell CD I didn't end up treasuring.