Customer Reviews

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Villa-Lobos: Concerto for guitar; Ponce: Concierto del sur

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

 

 

In 1980 I had the opportunity to purchase an album called "Classical Guitar Vol. 2" by Sharon Isbin which was recorded by "Sound Environment Series" in a stone church in St. Paul, Minnesota. This album contained works by Bach, Britten, and Brouwer. I nearly wore the vinyl out during the first month of ownership! I could not believe my ears! At that time I thought to myself, "Sharon Isbin is a world class guitarist; someday she will make history."

Indeed 25 years later she has done just that.

This historic, (first ever with guitar) recording with the New York Philharmonic demonstrates Ms Isbin's delicate guitar artistry with one of the world's greatest orchestras. Although the Rodrigo "Concerto de Aranjuez" is a well loved favorite, I was not very familiar with the Villa-Lobos and Manuel Ponce concerti. It is in these two concerti that Ms Isbin truly captivates the listener. The Ponce in particular is such a dynamic work that it is astounding that this work is not better known. I have no doubt that now that Ms Isbin has recorded this concerto with the Philharmonic, it will become a requested program in the coming years.

Sharon Isbin once studied with Rosalyn Tureck who remarked, "Sharon Isbin is gifted with a brilliant technique, an unusual intellect and spiritual qualities- all of which flower in her performance." How eloquent and accurate a statement.

What are you waiting for? I implore you to buy this CD and experience what I (and the world) have waited 25 years to hear.

I'm sure that Sharon Isbin does not exactly live for Grammy Awards, although they certainly don't hurt a performer's career. However, it is astonishing to me that her collaboration in this recording with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Jose Serebrier was not seen fit to merit at least a nomination for the 2005 awards. I'm sure that all of the nominees and the winner (announced the previous night) gave fine performances, but they could not have been any more compelling than this one.

I've heard many recordings of classical guitar with orchestra, and none that I have heard surpass this one. It is true that Isbin made a previous recording of the Rodrigo in 1989 with Lawrence Foster and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra that received critical acclaim and that Rodrigo himself praised her performance then as among the very best. However, that earlier recording contained one major flaw: the guitar was apparently not miked separately from the orchestra. As a result, the orchestra often covered her playing to an annoying degree. (If the guitar did have its own miking, the engineers did not bother to use it when they created the master.)

The current recording of the Rodrigo has all of the artistry of that first recording and none of its defects. The presence of both guitar and orchestra is, indeed, intimate. As a result, so much more of her interplay with the orchestra, as well as her unmatched range of color and dynamics, not to say technical brilliance, stand out brilliantly.

Sharon is, perhaps, unique among guitarists recording today in coming closest to the expressive range found only in Segovia, even to the point of almost matching his apparently unmatchably warm vibrato. And Segovia unfortunately never had a recording this magnificent in detail and presence to pass on to us. If you consider that Segovia is never known to have played Rodrigo's "Concierto De Aranjuez," then I would not hesitate in suggesting that this recording gives you an excellent idea of how he might have played it (along with more of his unique vibrato).

The other two works on the recording are equally brilliant. The Villa-Lobos surprises (I had not heard it before), and the Ponce, again, is a very close match to Segovia's own matchless recording of that piece.

In truth, Sharon Isbin brings her own unique qualities, including a steadier sense of tempo that stands apart from Segovia's famously self-determining (and remarkably effective) tempi. With more recordings like this, and a personal and professional generosity that stands apart, her name may yet be uttered in the same breath as that of the formerly unsurpassable Segovia.

So, what did happen to that Grammy nomination?

Sharon Isbin is one of the finest classical guitarists America has ever produced, and her performances have graced records and CDs for the better part of a quarter of a century. Here on this recording made last summer with conductor Jose Serebrier and the New York Philharmonic, she takes on three great concertos for her instrument--the super-popular "Concierto De Aranjuez" of Joaquin Rodrigo; the Guitar Concerto of Heitor Villa-Lobos; and "Concierto Del Sur" by Manuel Ponce.

The brilliance of her playing is manifested in each of these three works, with the Villa-Lobos and Ponce concertos being especially good because they are so tricky. Undoubtedly, many will take this CD because of Rodrigo's celebrated piece. It is a work that Ms. Isbin recorded once before in 1989 with Lawrence Foster and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra; and while this second recording may not exceed that recording (which the late composer acclaimed as the best version of "Aranjuez" he had ever heard), it comes very close to matching it.

Equally important to the recording is the superb accompaniment of the New York Philharmonic in the first-ever recording of a guitar concerto this orchestra has ever done. Serebrier, a former assistant to Leopold Stokowski and George Szell, conducts with a great attention to each of the nuances of these works. A tremendous achievement for all concerned all the way around.

I am truly mesmerized by this recording! After hearing Sharon Isbin perform this past summer live with the New York Philharmonic I was moved to tears. She is not only impeccable in technique, but also an artist capable of instilling great emotion into her performances. My experience has been that studio recorded guitar with orchestra lacks the intimacy of the live concert experience. That is not the case with this CD. I am amazed that finally the natural sound of Ms Isbin's live guitar has been captured in a recording that truly allows her to shine in the presense of an orchestra. What a treat to have not one, but three thrilling and captivating concerti. The Rodrigo is perfection. The passion she brings to the Villa-Lobos and Ponce concerti is overwhelming. A most amazing CD!

The only regret is that in the liner
notes, the names of composers Manuel Ponce
and Heitor Villa-Lobos are misslabeled in their pictures
thought you should know that; otherewise
the recording is great outstanding work
of Isbin and the New Yorkers, Serebrier is
just as great as always...

Sharon Isbin gives a phenominal performance on this album. All three concertos are excecuted very well. One of the biggest things that I enjoy about Aranjuez on this CD is that the guitar never gets covered up by the orchestra. I have listened to recordings of Aranjuez and not known that certain passages were even in the guitar part until I saw someone perform the concerto live. This is a great recording because it gives you three essential guitar concertos on one recording executed by world class musicians.

The Rodrigo concerto is without a doubt the most important and famous composition involving a guitar in the entire classical repertory. However, of the three concertos on this recording, Aranjuez is probably the weakest one on the disc. Isbin's tone gets a little to naily and clicky sometimes on this piece. Some of the runs in the first movement are a little sloppy and the cadenza in the second movement is a little over dramatic and the climax of the cadenza is very harsh. However, from the standpoint of sheer musical interpretation, it is probably one of the best interpretations of Aranjuez I've ever hear. Isbin adds little details to the piece that make it much more exciting.

The Villa-Lobos is very exciting. It seems that Isbin cleans up her technique a little by this point. The Ponce is brilliant as well. Words cannot describe the amazing execution of these pieces. I also cannot give as much critism to these pieces because I don't know them as well as the Rodrigo. Overall, this is a very solid recording. It is probably the best classical guitar recording of the year.

This is an excellent recording. Isbin gave a great performance. I was hooked on this CD for a few days. Recommended!!!

Wanted the concert from Jackson Hole. This isn't it. Not so hot.