Music of Giuliani

Mauro Giuliani (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Mauro Giuliani
• Audio CD (October 26, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000028TW7
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,089 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Guitar
  • #26 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music > Overtures

Track Listings

1. Andante Sostenuto/Allegro Maestoso

2. Rossiniana No.1, Op.119

3. Rossiniana No.3, Op.121

4. Allegro Maestoso

5. I. Allegro Spirito

6. II. Adagio: Con Grand Espressione

7. III. Allegro Vivace

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On Music of Giuliani, David Russell, one of the great guitarists of the late 20th century, plays a selection of solo works by one of the great guitarists of the early 19th century. Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) was deeply involved in many aspects of music throughout his life. He played cello in the premiere of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, gave lessons to Napoleon's wife, and popularized a method of guitar notation that is still used today. But he is remembered today for his compositions for guitar. Russell plays five of Giuliani's solo pieces with his usual blend of intelligence and musicality. He never lets his formidable technique overpower the music. On Rossiniana No. 1, part of a fantasy based on arias from Rossini's operas, Russell plays with a lyricism that is deeply emotional without being histrionic. Russell has a rare gift: he is able to make a guitar sing. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some of Giuliani's most ambitious pieces made easy, July 14, 2006

By 

Todd Montgomery (Wilmore, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music of Giuliani (Audio CD)

Don't let my title confuse you. Giuliani didn't write terribly ambitious pieces--if you're looking from the perspective of major composers. From the perspective of an instrument that in his time was not normally a concert instrument, these 5 works are about as daring as music had ever been for the 6-string instrument. Many music lovers have assumed that Giuliani's music is supposed to be simple and/or boring, and so assume that the few represented larger pieces--"Grand Overture" and the concertos--are the only music Giuliani wrote other than tiny exercises.

If you've ever been to a guitarist's concert who played Giuliani, you probably have heard the overture, the first piece of this disc. That's not a complaint, either; it is one of the first truly virtuoso pieces for guitar from the classical era. Russell gives us a perfect interpretation here, as usual.

The highlight here is the two Rossinianas on the disc. Their lyricism is unique among Giuliani's works, being more complicated and more impassioned than most. Some guitar lovers are enthusiastic about any Giuliani music simply because it is some of the very little music that resembles the classical viennese style; These Rossinianas do not require any die-hard fans to defend them, their charm should appeal to any Mozart lover who can so much as tolerate guitar. The op. 150 is also very good, and the somewhat well-known op. 15 is given a particularly lovely slow movement here.

(Giuliani, like many in his time, wrote many sets of variations, none of which appear here--an important choice by Russell because it shows Giuliani's control of other forms. To sample some of these, try the variations disc on Naxos.)

What Russell really achieves here is not so much exploring unknown ground (much of Giuliani remains unrecorded, including works for guitar and other instruments, and songs), but providing the most convincing account of Giuliani's importance to date. It is well known that Giuliani had a relationship with both Beethoven and Rossini, and that he interacted with a number of other important musicians. It seems obvious that Giuliani's accomplishments are minor in comparison to Beethoven's, which I do not dispute. However, Russell's disc shows that this music is more than parlor exercises; it's real concert, virtuoso music that deserves our attention.

I do not lament that Giuliani was not prolific in writing for other instruments; we have plenty of other composers from his era. It must have taken everything in him to figure out how to make the classical style work on guitar (If anything I hope for more recordings of his works for guitar and other instruments). At least it is the closest answer we'll get to the question "What would it have sounded like if the great masters Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven wrote for the guitar?"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, July 6, 2007

By 

Bjorkfinity (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music of Giuliani (Audio CD)

(This should be one of the first composers you've ever heard of if you've ever played the classical guitar). This recording is beyond remarkable. The tone and virtuosity is the best you will ever hear along with Russell's other recordings, as well. And David Russell's guitar sound is terrific, intonation is perfect and it projects extremely well. He is very sensitive with this music. Giuliani was a definite genius in his own right although most of his compositions are not as famous as some other guitar composers. His style was somewhat like Sor, pretty straight forward and his progressions never really straight out of key just like most 19th century composers. Giuliani was a virtuoso guitarist and these are virtuoso compositions. Nothing on this recording is harsh and Russell pays attention to the smallest details. The arpeggios are the smoothest you will ever here. A must CD for any guitar collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best composer I'd never heard of., March 21, 2007

By 

Eric Bourassa "Eric Bourassa" (Holland, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Music of Giuliani (Audio CD)

Giuliani's music is original and fresh, despite the fact that it comes from the Classical Era of music. As a guitar virtuoso, Giuliani knew how to take full advandtage of the strengths of the guitar. David Russell's performance is excellent.