Customer Reviews

Andrés Segovia: The Complete 1949 London Recordings

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This album offers a nice cross section of the classical guitar repertoire, ranging from two Bach pieces to Torroba and Turina to twentieth century composers Manuel Ponce and Hector Villa-Lobos, plus Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Guitar Concerto no.1. It also includes music by Crespo, Segovia, and Sor, with some tracks previously unpublished.

While I am glad, in particular, to hear the Torroba,Ponce and Villa-Lobos, the monaural, two dimensional sound is not as flattering to Segovia as some MCA and DGG CDs. Segovia was at his height at the time these recordings were made, and we are fortunate to have them. At the same time, I would suggest the newcomer or casual Segovia or classical guitar listener go first for The Segovia Collection, Volume 3 (MCA), and Segovia in the music of Albeniz and Granados, which is core Segovia repertoire where his playing glows, and the sound is flattering.

This CD, while essential, is more for the student, performer and connoiseur of the classical guitar. It is perhaps the only Segovia recording of the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Concerto no. 1. I am glad to have the Ponce and Villa-Lobos selections, and Segovia's way with Torroba is incomparable. He has recorded the Bach elsewhere in better sound (MCA, DGG). I got it for the Bach, Torroba, Ponce, Villa-Lobos and Castelnuovo-Tedesco. (Segovia also plays Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Tarantella.)

Recommended.