Customer Reviews

Poeta

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I ordered this CD because I liked Vicente's previous flamenco music. But I was suprised when I listened to it. It was a flamenco concerto with the most wonderful orchestration by Leo Brouwer. But not a concerto in the traditional sense. I have always associated Leo with Avant Garde music, but here he has produced some very beautiful classical music. Contrast this with Vicente's superb Flamenco playing and feeling (duende) and you have a refreshingly different experience. It took me a number of listenings to fully appreciate the depth and beauty of this CD. Vicente also allows the orchestra plenty of time and space to set the mood and does at times have the guitar simply move along with it. In other words, he does not allow the guitar to claim the limelight all the time. This is a nice touch.
In addition to the guitar and orchestra, the CD contains some poetical recitations and some flamenco singing, both in Spanish, but these occupy a small portion of the music. The CD liner notes are in Spanish so I cannot understand what Vicente has written about this CD, which is a shame.
There is an expanded and orchestrated version of his alegrias "Maestro Sanlucar" from his first (and in my opinion best) CD "De Mi Corazon Al Aire".

The quality of the recording is superb. It brings out the full richness and beauty of Brouwer's orchestration. I was also concerned that the flamenco guitar with its lighter construction and sound (compared to the classical guitar) would be unable to match this depth, but this is not the case. There is a good balance between guitar and orchestra.

Vincente is without a doubt one of the best Flamenco guitarist in our generation, not only for his technique but for his soulful feeling. Combining with Leo Brower's master touch of orchestration, the result is a stunning dream like symphanic poetry. It is almost heart-breakenly beautiful. If you like Concerto de Aranjez and modern Flamenco. You really have to listen to this album, or you won't ever know how much you've been missed. Viva, Vicente!

This music is positively the work of a genius. He takes very traditional flamenco and molds it into a modern masterpiece. His technique mixed with his unbelievable mastery of melody are an unbeatable combination. Too much flamenco suffers from a lack of melody, with all emphasis on compas. Compas are of course, necessary, but the genius of Amigo is that he is able to take complex flamenco rhythms which usually aren't friendly to the layman's ear and make them into exquisite pieces of music. I recommend this CD to anyone who wants to hear a master of a genre, as well as anyone who wants to hear a master of the guitar as a whole.

Honestly, I wish reviewers like Artin Karapet would keep their worthless blanket BS statements to themselves. Oscar de Lucia is (was) a very talented guitarist (listen to Fuerte Y Caudal - exquisite), but not based on Luzia alone. If you love him that much, please don't waste review time trashing other artists who are just a talented, and maybe even more so. Have you listened to Geraldo Nunez? Your might change your mind.
Poeta is a lovely cd, worthy of repeated listenings. Though I prefer Vicente's solo work, this it truly a fine album in the vein of Concerto de Aranguez. The other reviewers - the SANE ones - are right on the money.

Vicente Amigo, probably the leading Flamenco guitarist of his generation, with the assistance of the great Cuban guitarist, composer and conductor, Leo Brouwer, has created a blend of spoken word, orchestra and Flamenco guitar that has moments of outstanding beauty, rhythmic intensity, and emotional depth. While it does not represent a original contribution to Flamenco like the work of his mentor, Manolo Sanlucar, it has enough of Amigo's unique sensiblity and guitar wizardry to satisfy his fans. The one drawback is the orchestration, which is too derivative of De Falla and Rodrigo - why does so much Spanish orchestral music have to sound like "Nights in the Garden of Spain" or "Concierto de Aranjuez?"

The guitar playing ability of Vicente Amigo is, as usual, wonderful. However, this particular cd is too much poetry recital for my taste. It's well done, but if it's Vicente's guitar that you want to hear, get one of his other cds.

I've bought this CD being in Spain (Cordoba- Vicente's homeland) in 1999 and I fell in love immediately after listening to it for the first time. I keep on listening to it whenever I can and enjoy as in my first listening. The concert is great, Vicente's guitar sounds great, Leo Brower does a magnificent job with this orchestra and Miguel Bose reads the poems superbly! It worths its cost completely!!!! I'm from Spanish origin so I feel this kind of music deeply. Aranjuez concert and De Falla's works are among my favourites.

Vicente Amigo is the most technically accomplished guitarist I have ever heard. Whilst purists of flamenco may find some of his work a little too jazz influenced, his solo pieces are truly astounding and some of the orchestrated pieces take your breath away with their beauty esp 'Poeta En El Puerto'. He is a gifted and worthy successor to Paco de Lucia.

Technically marvelous, Amigo has a darker, more haunting sound than Paco DeLucia. Brower's arrangements have made his playing brighter on this recording, but don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong with Amigo's sound on his other albums. If you don't know of him, check him out. If you love flamenco guitar you will not be disappointed. You must hear "City of Ideas" as well.

Paco de Lucia is better than every body else in the world. He is the best and he will always be the best, no one will ever replace him......