Customer Reviews

Reflections of Spain: Spanish Favorites for Guitar

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Russell's superb performance and the incredible Dammann guitar bring out the very best in each, and that combination is breathtaking. Russell's two tracks composed by Tarrega are, in my opinion, the best recordings of those compositions, which shouldn't be a surprise as Russell won the Francisco Tarrega Competition in Spain. The beauty of the tremelo on track three is hard to describe except that I stop whatever I'm doing each time I hear it, and I've played this CD often. A lot.
The recording quality is impressive but drifts into subtle significance after listening to an hour plus of rich full-bodied Russell/Dammann genius. (How does Russell do so much without any string sqeeks?)

This is probably my favorite CD of all time. I play it nearly every evening, sending me off to sleep dreaming of the perfume of the orange blossoms in the gardens of the Alcazar in Cordoba some moonlit summer night. (Been there, done that!) This album is exquisite - David Russell is a magnificent guitarist in terms of technique, style and taste equally, and the recording is crystalline. You can't go wrong with this one.

Like every one else I have probably heard all other worthy versions of most of these tunes....I happened to find out about David Russell via reading a bio of Barrios and recommended recordings....it said...Dave Russell is the man...I had not heard of him before that...I got the CD...and WOW...!!then I got interested in his music so I bought anything I could from him including the Aire latino , plays Bach and this one....this guy was born to play the classical guitar...

This is the first artist that I hear uses proper dynamics in his performance...the rest of the pack do not nearly use the guitar as a guitar they use it just another vehicle to play a composition....David's strumming...pulling pushing the music and his singing tone is above all others...not as controled as other classical players....if people played the guitar as a guitar not as a lute..or harpsicored or a piano...then this is what it should sound like...acoustic guitar's range is very limited ...but in the hands of a master...there are no limits....

The combination of scottish genes and Spanish environment upbringing, and so much unseen work and talent comes out as simple beauty. The guitar is played as if effortlessly on all these wonderful famous classical guitar pieces. I happened to listen to the same pieces played live by a great guitarist in Spain this summer. Of course this CD is registered in a studio, but still the style and sounds coming from David Russell's guitar are incomparable. The CD is a beautiful gift. I tried it with different people and they all loved it and couldn't help listening to it right away. You won't wait to see David Russel on stage playing these live!

Having just returned to England after a long spell living in Spain I was searching for an evocative suite of Spanish guitar music to accompany my extensive array of photographic studies. Being familiar with the work 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra' I was immediately attracted to this compilation: 'Reflections of Spain'. The music was a revelation. David Russel made the guitar sing lyrically, recalling many bitter sweet moments of life in Iberia. The light and shade of the choices included covered such a broad scope as to fit my purpose exactly and give enjoyment better than I could have hoped for.

This is a sensational CD of Spanish guitar music, one of the best I have heard in quite some time, and that includes John Williams' all- Albeniz CD, or Julian Bream's CD of Spanish guitar music, which are both very fine. David Russell is mesmerizing, both musically and technically.

The disc contains Serenata by Malats; Tarrega's Capricho Arabe, and Recuerdos de la Alhambra; Granados' Spanish Dances 5 & 10, La Maja de Goya,and Valses Poeticos; Albeniz's Sevilla, Mallorca, and Asturias; and Cancion y Danza no. 1 by Antonio Ruiz Pipo.

David Russell's technique must be heard to be believed. It is staggering.

This is my fifth David Russell CD (David Russell plays: 1) Bach, 2) Baroque, 3) Barrios, and 4) Aire Latino. His Legends of Spain might be his best CD I've heard so far. These five CDs are all so different musically, as to make comparisons difficult.

This is the sort of CD ideal to give to friends who love either the classical guitar, or Spanish classical guitar music. A must.

Up close, larger than life, if very clear, fine sound.

This is the best Spanish guitar CDs that I have found. Even with "Essential Guitar: 33 Guitar Masterpieces" having more tracks and two CDs, this is better material. I am not saying that "33 Guitar Masterpiece" was bad, I actually rate it second. No need to skip through "Reflections" like many other compilations of this mixed type CD. The quaility is crisp but lower overall peak (loudness) sound compared to some of my other CDs. Read reviews of other CDs of this type because there is many that have substandard recording measures. I believe this is a must for the any guitar lover!!!

Glad to get a good recording of Malats' Serenade. Also, the long set of the Valses Poeticos is very nice (John Williams' version is great but does not include the sets heard here). Other performances on this CD are very nice. I especially like the Danza by Pipo--very beautiful and inspired performance. Overall, a very good classical guitar CD.

This is one of the most beautiful and innovative instrumental CD. An excellent gift to others and perfect for prayer and mediation.

One additional element worth noting: David Russell plays the "full" versions of both 'Recuerdos de La Alhambra' (Tarrega) and 'Sevilla' (Albeniz)on this recording. He plays all the repeats in Recuerdos, which times out at 5:31, almost twice the length of most recordings due to the repeats. Hey, the more of Russell's liquid-smooth tremolo we get, the better! On 'Sevilla' Russell repeats the entire 'A' section at the end. Nearly all guitarists in the past (Segovia, Williams, Bream, etc. etc.) have played the piece with a curtailed A section at the end.
The Granados arrangements are wonderful. Russell's sheet music arrangements of Spanish Dances 5 and 10 and 'La Maja de Goya' are available - it's great to have a clean, modern arrangement of the Spanish Dance #10 in particular.