Andres Segovia - Segovia Collection, Vol. 9: The Romantic Guitar

All Music Guide

As part of the Segovia Collection, volume nine was released by MCA to showcase the ability of classical guitar master Andres Segovia to play the music of the Romantic Movement. The recordings were made in both Madrid and New York between 1952 and 1969. All but one of the pieces on the album was transcribed by the maestro himself from the original works for piano or orchestra. On some of the pieces, Segovia altered the work slightly. Case in point, a portion of Mendelssohn's "Canzonetta" was consolidated from four instrument parts to Segovia's singular guitar. The works are executed with unerring mastery of the instrument, as well as a stunning beauty that comes from the classical guitar. On the album inclusions are mostly works from the major romantics, such as Grieg and Mendelssohn. Also included are a pair of works from the violin virtuoso and composer Paganini, in his "Romanza" and "Andantino Variato" (which was actually transcribed by Miguel Ponce, a classical guitar legend in his ...own right, and the subject of another volume of the Segovia Collection). Haydn's "Largo Assai" was excerpted from a string quartet but is executed perfectly on solo guitar. Lesser-known romantic composers such as Italian Mauro Giuliani are also represented, as are better-known composers Brahms, Debussy, and Chopin. Regardless of the composer, Segovia is able to turn all of the works into full shows of virtuosity and beauty. The album has well-chosen recordings, good choices of works, and, most of all, wonderfully played passages from the undisputed master of the classical guitar. - Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide Read more Less