Customer Reviews

Segovia Collection (Vol. 1): The Legendary Andres Segovia in an All-Bach Program

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Perhaps some of today's best classical guitarists have surpassed Segovia's pure technical ability, but the warmth and spirituality that Segovia brings to his playing will forever remain unsurpassed. In this particular CD, Segovia(he was very much a Bach specialist) brings not only life but an almost spiritual warmth to these Bach pieces, originally for lute, cello, and violin. Segovia shows why he is the greatest of all classical guitarists, one of the greatest musicians of the century and one of the few truly great interpreters of Bach(along with fellow spaniard and cellist Pablo Casals, pianists Glenn Gould and Rosalyn Tureck, and violinist Rachel Podger). Get this if you love guitar, get this if you love music, and get this if you love Bach. This album truly has some of the greatest interpretations of Bach pieces on record.

Anyone who was enchanted by Yo Yo Ma's recent video compilation of Bach's cello suites and who has an ear for guitar will also find something special here. Segovia brings a reverence and timelesness to these works, all of them ineffable masterpieces. While recording techniques and outright virtuosity have continued to develop since these recordings (Williams in the Lute Suites, Bream/Barrueco in the Chaconne, Sollscher/Galbraith and others in the Cello Suites) the sense of discovery and sheer love of beauty shine through as strongly as ever. These recordings will be around for a long time to come, but jump right in and be enchanted by as accurate and unwavering an account of these works as you ever thought possible.

Not to knock the many violinists who have done soulful powerful renditions of the 2nd Violin Partita, but Segovia's transcription of Chaconne is simply phenomonal! This CD is particularly moving for guitarists.

Andres Segovia, for my money, is the finest virtuoso guitarist who ever lived. Jimi Hendrix comes in at a close second because of his craftsmanship and highly innovative style. But there was something about Segovia that separated him from everyone else, regardless of genre.

The last review (from Mickey) reminded me there are more important elements to a musician than his or her technical skills. The "warmth and spirituality," as astutely noted by Mickey, are the seminal elements that make Segovia's playing so special. He brought Bach's compositions to life, and his interpretation of them here is compelling.

My music collection graces almost the entire gamut of music genres, from opera and classical guitar to hardcore and death metal. I'm proud to have Segovia's music in my collection. This is mandatory listening for anyone who cherishes quality music, especially those who are partial towards virtuoso guitar. I love it!

Segovia's a genius! Being a violinist, I haven't been moved by any guitar renditions of violin works. Segovia's recording is an exception. His interpretation of the Bach Chaconne is as captivating as any violin recordings. It's masterful.

Maestro Andres Segovia Performs an all Bach program. There is nothing like it nor Virtuoso player's could come closed to The Greatest Maestro. Truly the best classical Guitar cd in the Universe

Segovia loves guitar. He DOES loves it. All this can be heard in this cd, the whole Bach work, half of them adapted for guitar by segovia himself. And you will find that only a true artist can play and sing like this, confident, self-contained, even smiling in his own world . There is needless to judge such a performance. This is true excellent music.

Segovia recorded many pieces several times in his career -- those of Bach especially -- and the anthologist is presented with a thorny problem: to go for performance or recording quality, or a balance of both? By and large the choice here is happy (especially since the artist's earlier Bach recordings are available, on the EMI anthology), and John Duarte's transcription of the 3rd 'Cello Suite was recorded only once.

But the "Chaconne", which should be the crown jewel of the album, is a big disappointment. Although recorded in 1954, it sounds absolutely limp compared to the wild passion of the 1947 version for Musicraft anthologised so many times on LP; so much so, that I find it painful to listen to.

And in any case, these performances have been remastered and reissued (2002) in a superior edition, so there's little reason for buying this one.

The total time is 64'34".

Segovia Collection (Vol. 1): The Legendary Andres Segovia in an All-Bach Program is a 1987 MCA Classics recording starring guitarist Andres Segovia. He plays with such intensity and feeling that you can feel his love for Bach's music. Listening to this, is having the chance to listen to pure genius. The booklet contains well-written music notes. For the lover of Bach this is a must listen. Highly recommended indeed. 5/5.