Customer Reviews

David Russell Plays Baroque Music

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Baroque guitar cd's have a tendency to sound alike; all very stately and undertoned but without much punch or counterpoint to keep things interesting. This is NOT one of them! Russell's transcriptions sparkle and delight. The Loeillet piece that begins the program has some great counterpoint as a result of being previously for keyboard and ranks up there with some of Bach's compositions. The rest of the pieces are more of the same excellence, with Russell's cross-string trills and virtuosity making themselves apparent everywhere. It must also be noted the guitar he plays, a Dammann, has a wonderful tone and presence and, to my ears, similiar to a Smallman, especially in some of the strong, bassy chords. Though the composers are famous, the music is not standard repertoire (apart from a few of the Scarlatti) and so makes a sort of "new music" cd of Baroque tunes. Fans of his highly regarded Baroque cd on GHA will be greatly pleased by this one.

I like David Russel alot. His interpretations really bring music to life with gorgeous texture and perceptive phrasing. His choice of instruments are usually excellent as well. This is good stuff here. I feel obligated to voice two criticisms, though. First, I don't think the Dammann guitar on this disc has pretty trebles. They are kind of nasal. The guitar(s) he used for his Barrios and Tarrega CD's are superior recording instruments and have simply better tone--really beautiful, indeed perfect! Second, I find the Scarlatti interpretations don't quite measure up to those of Stephan Schmidt, who plays with a passion and clarity like I have never heard before. I can't see anyone being disappointed with Stephan Schmidt's Scarlatti recording. Never heard better. Gorgeous guitar as well. (I think both guitarists prefer cedar guitars over spruce).

David Russell proves successful in these transcriptions to guitar, creating a dynamic forward progression and seamless legato that mirrors what the harpsichord would otherwise have acheived in the original. This is most impressive in the Scarlatti pieces, especially the vivacious and fascinating Sonata in D major (K.491) where Russell's sense of the whole and creative textures make it a most enticing result. His silky smooth, cross-string lead ins here create a bit of an illusion of a keyboard action. The G minor Suite of Loeillet is a refreshing less familiar piece that is hard to imagine growing weary of - unlike the Vivaldi Sonata which is, well ... another Vivaldi piece ... although with playing like Russell's, everything seems to shine regardless. Vividly recorded with a marvelous, full-bodied guitar acoutic that is hard to fault, this CD rises above the often mundane sea of classical guitar recordings of Baroque favorites. The highlight is certainly the Scarlatti transcriptions, especially the famous D major sonata. Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Recording - 5 stars (Telarc's 20-bit digital master).

I bought this CD at a David Russel performance because he was such a great performer. I like the CD as much as I liked his live performance. He has expressive sound and makes the guitar sing and ring (sic).

I don't know how Russell makes his guitar sound like this, how his transcriptions get the tone and expression that this instrument is supposed to bring with the richness and playfullness of the keyboard. How all that the voices sound clear and distinct. I'm giving this record to a Scarlatti loving friend, it's so beautifully played and really getting the famous Spanish feeling. And some intrincate passage in the Loillet piece made me stop my car today, this guy will get me crashed some day.

While I don't care much for Russell's Latin and Spanish guitar performances, I do think he beautifully performs the Baroque pieces here and Bach transcriptions on other recordings. He's especially good at playing counterpoint and weaving different voices together. The tonal quality is pleasant also.