The Legendary Segovia

Andres Segovia (Composer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Fernando Sor (Composer), Joaquin Turina (Composer), Manuel Ponce (Artist), Enrique Granados (Artist), Isaac Albeniz (Artist), Robert de Visee (Artist), Felix Mendelssohn (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Andres Segovia, Johann Sebastian Bach, Fernando Sor, Joaquin Turina
• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00000I3VA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,081 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #69 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Lute

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Segovia heard in these recordings, made between 1927 and 1939, is quite different from the somewhat enfeebled legend who toured and recorded through his 80s. The flashing virtuosity and color of the best of these 78s compares better with the virtuosic standards of the '90s. Just hearing Tárrega's familiar Recuerdos de la Alhambra in this 1927 recording is enough to convince you that you're listening to one of the great guitar virtuosos of all time. It's unclear why Segovia's often-sentimentalized Bach became so famous, and the transcriptions that lead off this disc are quite unstylish by our contemporary standards. But once you get past those and the following Baroque items, which take up only a few minutes, you're into the romantic and 20th-century repertoire that Segovia played so brilliantly. The amazing transfers make the recordings sound much more recent than they actually are. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" album for classical guitar enthusiasts., February 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Legendary Segovia (Audio CD)

Andre Segovia is a master story teller who shares his insights of the classic lute, voilin and cello compositions of J. S. Bach. I find the Suite No. 3 (cello) part 5 Bourree to capture the essence of classical guitar music. This album is at the top of my gift list and has been shared with a dozen of my friends.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional guitar work, October 16, 2002

By 

Astomis (Burnsville, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Legendary Segovia (Audio CD)

Segovia makes his brilliance shine on this compilation. You can't deny the musicianship in these early recordings that, if you are familiar with any of his later sessions, were never left behind. Buy it, you'll love it. I'm sure you'll be scouring for more Segovia to grace you cd player.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Editorial review, February 23, 2007

By 

Peter Spence (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Legendary Segovia (Audio CD)

I don't agree with Leslie Gerber's editorial review of this disc, Segovia's playing of Bach is beautiful and he infuses this music which is so easy to play in a sterile fashion with great attention to the melodic line, contrapuntal texture and form, skills which are often sadly lacking in todays performances of Bach. Leslie Gerber blindly follows the politically correct mood of the day which is to deny that there is any romance in this music, truly great performers don't just play the dots they bring something special of their own to the music, a point completely missed by Leslie Gerber and other critics and commentators of her kind.

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