Customer Reviews

Lute Concertos

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

 

 

Hopkinson Smith plays a thirteen-course lute on this CD, not a guitar. I stand by my earlier comments, though, that this is a wonderful recording. I have since heard the Fasch work performed by Goebel's Musica Antiqua Koln, who take the andante much faster, with powerful accents and, alas, with less feeling. I usually love that group, which puts this CD in an even greater light. The strings (two violins, viola, violoncello piccolo) are rich with detail and sweetness, and the compositions are varied and interesting. An excellent choice for lovers of classical music, chamber music, or lute music.

Hopkinson Smith plays a thirteen-course lute on this CD, not a guitar. I stand by my earlier comments, though, that this is a wonderful recording. The strings are rich with detail and sweetness, and the compositions are varied and interesting. I have since heard another recording of the Fasch concerto by the (often wonderful) Musica Antiqua Koln, who perform with larger numbers and at a much faster pace. This smaller group (two violins, viola, violoncello piccolo) brings a gentleness and delicacy to the music that Goebel's group cannot match. An excellent choice for lovers of classical music and/or lute music.

I've been blinded by greatness: the andante of J.F. Fasch's guitar concerto. This is simply one of the most beautfiul pieces of music I've heard in a long time. Fasch (1688-1758) was a contemporary of J.S. Bach and Telemann but also displays signs of the forthcoming classical style. The interplay of the instruments is fascinating and the texture of sound created by this group is so warm and enveloping that I've found myself listening to it over and over again. Chiara Banchini is quite possibly my favorite baroque violinist, and Hopkinson Smith (frequently heard on Jordi Savall's recordings) displays excellent technique and feeling as a soloist. Some day I hope to pay closer attention to the rest of this disc, but I'm still captivated by track 2. (Be warned: the Haydn work included is an anonymous arrangement of his string quartet Op. 1 No. 6).