Customer Reviews

The Segovia Collection, Vol. 8: Platero & I And Other Works By Castelnuovo-Tedesco

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This eighth of the nine "Legendary Andres Segovia" volumes on MCA Classics features the music of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. The disc is divided between the ten delicate, quiet, introspective pieces that comprise "Platero and I," and the brisk, up-tempo, dynamic guitar quintet, featuring the strings of the Quintetto Chigiano. The disc concludes with "Tonadilla For Guitar On The Name Of Andres Segovia," a sublime conclusion to a terrific collection. All nine of these Segovia volumes are outstanding, and will serve as an excellent introduction to this guitar virtuoso, and classical music in general.

If you enjoy the evocative music of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, this CD is seriously delicious. "Platero y Yo" is a volmue of poems about Ramon Jimenez and his donkey, Platero. For these simple, eloquent and ingratiating works, Jimenez won the Nobel Prize. Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's setting of some of the poems is not programme music but the source of the inspiration is plain enough. There is warmth and intimacy in the music, as in the poems themselves, though the music betrays a more modernist sensibility. I do agree, however, that the other selections on this CD are sufficiently different in mood as to make it somewhat jarring to listen to the whole CD in one sitting. Nevertheless, the guitar quintet is terrific, as is the Tonadilla dedicated to Segovia himself. The performances are excellent, of course.

This CD has wonderful music performed by Andres Segovia. It's a great CD to play while driving or when having guests over for dinner, as the volume level is consistant and the recording quality of this great artist is as good as it gets; especially for 'background music' when guests enjoy conversation. My wife and I often get inquiries as to 'who was the performer' and how much they liked the soothing classical guitar music.
Warren, NC

I had an old record of Segovia playing the 10 pieces from Platero & I, which I dearly loved. I believe this is the same recording, and the music and the playing are wonderful. However, after my first listen of my new CD I immediately burned myself a CD with only the Platero and I pieces, as the transition from those contemplative, solo guitar, tone poems to the other selections included on the original CD was difficult for me.