Customer Reviews

Guitar Concerti

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

 

 

This celebrated and so may times listened Concert has seen many performances of all kind of conceptions. Even there is a curious transcription for harp by Nicanor Zabaleta, not available in CD format.
In this case we have a warm performance. John Williams in the peak of his powers performs to date the most successful and expressive Aranjuez that I have listened ever. Ormandy shines too throughout his accompaniment with the glorious strings sections of the Philadelphia.
Fantasía para un gentil hombre finds in Williams an acceptable reading, but the full acknowledgement goes to Andres Segovia. who recorded an unsurpassable recording in the late fifties.
Giuliani Op. 30 is a lovely piece as well the famous Vivaldi 's Concert, altough I felt this last work with extremely fast tempo.
A golden recording for your collection.

Joaquin Rodrigo, the highly talented, visionary and inspired composer who went through blindness with dignity and courage.This is one of his best piece. Full of emotion and power. And John Williams showed his true colors as a guitarist as guitar and orchestra, conducted majestically by Eugene Ormandy graces each other in perfect harmony. Enough to make you cry. Get enough hankies in store!

When I saw this CD I thought it was a bargain, a famous guitarist playing some of the best guitar concertos with famous orchestras. But the sound quality is mediocre, and the English Chamber Orchestra, usually a great group, plays terribly in Vivaldi's beautiful concerto(Williams leads the orchestra himself in that performance). In any case, I have heard better performances of both Rodrigo and Vivaldi, and unless you are on a really tight budget or a big Williams fan, why not find better recordings, and there are so many great digital ones out there too...