Customer Reviews

Barrios: Guitar Music, Vol. 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Playing Barrios requires more than just excellent technique. The performer has to capture the darkness in the light passages, like a yearning in moments of gaiety..Also, capture the light in the dark passages, as a ray of optimissim in moments of sorrow. Ms Goni captures all these emotions profoundly in this highly recommended CD.

The programme features rarely heard gems like Humouresque, Pepita, and the magical Tu y Yo. Her expressive phrasing often breathes new life into the often played works such as Maxixe, Junto a Tu Corazon, Vals no4.

Romantic guitar music, with Latin American folkloric influence

I should have written this years ago when I first got this recording. I host a half-hour program of music for guitar called Silver Moonbeams on WHRO FM 90.3 in Norfolk VA. I have all the Barrios recordings, and this is simply the best. Antigoni Goni knows and loves this music. Her timing and phrasing are superb. Her touch on the instrument is light and just right. In short, in my opinion, this is the very finest Barrios recording available. Many guitarists are competent, a few are brilliant and just a handful play music for the Gods. Antigoni Goni is definitely in the latter category.

I got this and David Russell's Barrios CD about the same time. The Penguin Guide to CDs gives this CD a three star - outstanding - rating; they also rate John Williams' Barrios recordings highly, but don't mention the David Russell Barrios recording.

This is Volume 1 of a projected series of Barrios' guitar music. It is my first time hearing Antigoni Goni who is excellent, leading me to want to hear her other recordings as well as live in recital.

There isn't too much overlap between her and Russell in Barrios, making getting both CDs worth it if you like Barrios.

Excellent recording quality.

Agustín Barrios Mangoré expresses the psyche of 20th century classical guitar with his magical compositions. Antigoni Goni expresses, through her ability to capture every single note, every little sound, every subtle harmonic, every little tremolo..., the psyche of Barrios music.

She is, as far as I can tell, the best interpreter of Barrios' music.

And, if the reader of this knows anything about his compositions, he or she should get hold of this CD. Sorrow disguised as happiness and gaiety rooted into sadness are clearly heard in Goni's recordings. Her playing is not just about feeling but about understanding what this brilliant music is about and how this unsurpassable instrument, the classical guitar, expresses it through Goni's fingers. I've heard Goni perform live, which is an experience, and this CD conveys it faithfully.

I agree with the previous reviewer that, in this CD, we find pieces rarely heard, like "villancico de Navidad" and "junto a tu corazón". I hope she will continue to record Barrios. I'd love to hear Barrios' last tremolo (una limosna por el amor de Dios), danza Guaraní and the sueño de la muñequita played by Antigoni Goni.

Barrios's music is finally getting it's due in the Northern Hemisphere and Ms. Goni has the measure of the music. She obviously enjoys her work--her fire and elan "bring it home" with great gusto--BRAVO!

These are spectacular pieces; even though some of them sound simple they are anything but. Barrios is never showy for the sake of being showy--his pyrotechnics are in the service of the music. The Music is wonderful, I've had this CD for almost two years--I take it everywhere and the jewel case is just about gone--I never tire of it.

BRAVO!

The playing on this disk is terrific. Ms Goni handles the music with a real sense of style and solid technical control. In my humble opinion, this disk can stand proudly alongside Barrios recordings by Williams and Russell.

One of my favourite performances on this disk is the simple and rarely heard "Humoresque".

Classical, delightful guitar sounds you can listen to all day!! Up-beat and light-hearted. It is especially lovely to enjoy hearing a female guitarist, Antigoni Goni, in a music genre dominated somewhat by males (who are fantastic too,ofcourse!). The composer, Barrios, is possibly the best all-time composer-guitarist ever! Amazing!

This is one of my favorite CDs. You've never heard Barrios like this!

We play this CD when we're feeling mellow, or when we're trying to put our 2-year-old daughter to bed. I could swear the third track is part of the soundtrack to "The Third Man."