The Romantic Guitar

Mauro Giuliani (Composer), Johann Kaspar Mertz (Composer), Raphaëlla Smits (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Raphaëlla Smits
• Composer: Mauro Giuliani, Johann Kaspar Mertz
• Audio CD (January 1, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Accent Records
• ASIN: B00000442Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #643,634 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. La Rimembranza, for guitar

2. Le Gondolier, for guitar, Op. 65/3

3. Pianto dell'amante, for guitar

4. Souvenir de Choulhoff, for guitar

5. Transcription for guitar of Schubert's Ständchen

6. Liebesbotschaft, for guitar

7. Le Carnaval de Venise, for guitar, Op. 6

8. Grande Overture, for guitar in A major, Op. 61

9. La Caccia, Gran Rondò, for guitar, Op. 109

10. Grand Variations (6), for guitar, Op. 112

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lush romanticism, October 13, 2001

By	Eugene C. Braig IV "euge-o-rama" (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Raphaella Smits is a competent player with a lush, expansive tone and panache for grand, romantic interpretation. This approach to Mertz is absolutely gorgeous. The Mazurka, "Souvenir de Choulhoff," and the Schubertian songs, "Standchen" and "Liebesbotschaft," are especially powerful. Giuliani is of the generation before Mertz, the age of sprightly high classicism and rigid adherence to sonata-allegro form. Unfortunately, while the Smits' aesthetic enhances Mertz's compositions, interpreting Giuliani in this way seems somehow constricting. The Grand Ouverture in particular comes off as almost lethargic.