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Editorial Reviews
Review
Nobel Prize-winning Andalusian poet Juan Ramon Jimenez is most remembered for Platero y yo, his 1917 collection of tender reflections on his beloved little donkey. In 1960 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco wrote guitar accompaniments to be played with the recitation of 28 of the 32 short chapters. His music perfectly suits the character of the texts -- gentle, idyllic, pastoral, sometimes playful, and sometimes melancholy. Castelnuovo-Tedesco was astute in calculating the relationship between the words and the music, and they complement each other beautifully, without overwhelming each other, but the music is of enough interest that it could exist independently of the text. The alchemy of words and music in this recording of 17 of the movements with speaker Nelson Brenes and guitarist Frank Koonce creates a wonderfully complete experience. Both perform with a reserve and understatement that suit the text ideally, never falling into broad humor or pathos that could weaken the work's gentle impact. Brenes, an operatic baritone, delivers the text with directness and sensitivity, and he's well matched with Koonce's relaxed and expressive playing. The sound is clean and intimate. The CD is beautifully produced, with charming pen and ink illustrations from an early edition of the text. It should be of interest to fans of Spanish-flavored guitar music, and of spoken poetry with musical accompaniment. --Stephen Eddins, allmusicguide.com
Review
Many years ago, I attended a concert at the North Carolina School of the Arts where the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Platero y yo was performed in its intended form. The blending of the Italian composer's music with the evocative text by Nobel Prize-winning Juan Ramón Jiménez was a wonderful experience. While the guitar works stand on their own very well for the most part, the words are so beautiful that hearing them together is magical. Koonce and Brenes have selected seventeen of the pieces for this disc and each one is a gem. It is hard to imagine how either narrator or guitarist could be bettered. Koonce plays with complete mastery and wonderful expressiveness. Brenes has a glorious speaking voice (and sings nicely at times too) and delivers the text with great drama wile still managing to avoid any "stage-y" histrionics. The recorded sound is beautiful. It may take a minute or two to enter the acoustic world the artist/producers have created, but quickly one enjoys the overall sound and the balance of voice and guitar. It is obvious that being a Spanish-speaker will enhance one's appreciation of this work, but the narration can be appreciated for its sonorities alone. Luckily, comprehension can be guaranteed by a beautifully produced booklet included with the disc. It has Spanish and English texts, and charming illustrations from a 1922 edition of the book. In case it should make a difference to anyone, Brenes delivers the text in very elegant Latin-American Spanish. I like it, but if you are expecting an earful of zetas you will be disappointed! --Al Kunze, Soundboard Magazine
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Platero y yo,
By
This review is from: Platero y yo - Elegia Andaluza (Audio CD)
This is a beautifully written story about a man and his donkey that, when narrated by Nelson Brenes, is both touching and warmhearted. The guitarist, Frank Koonce, is masterful in his interpretation. A wonderful story that is beautifully recorded.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frank Koonce guitar & Nelson Brenes voice, Platero y yo by Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco,
This review is from: Platero y yo - Elegia Andaluza (Audio CD)
Frank Koonce is an extraordinary and refined musician who's professional career I've been following during the last ten years. His new version of Platero y yo by the Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco is an extraordinary achievement. What I can hear in this recording is a perfect balance between an outstanding player and a great emotive orator, not easy to reach because you have to understand the deep meaning of the words by Juan Ramon Jimenez and the technical difficulties that Castelnuovo-Tedesco demands for this work. This is a great recording to hear and hear many times! Manuel Rubio
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Platero y Yo,
By
This review is from: Platero y yo - Elegia Andaluza (Audio CD)
La musicalidad y elegancia en la ejecución de la guitarra a cargo de Frank Koonce hacen, junto con la emotiva voz de Nelson Brenes, la mezcla homogénea perfecta entre música y poesía. Uno no puede sino dejarse llevar por tan conmovedoras historias que describen desde la gracia y alegría que Platero desplega, hasta la profunda tristeza que su partida deja, propias de una elegía. Es un CD para coleccionar.
Arnoldo Garcia Santos. Escuela de Música Universidad de Guanajuato
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