Recommendations for great classical guitar recordings

dburna · « **on:** 9 Dec 2009, 09:08 pm »

I am looking for recommendations on great classical guitar recordings. I have some familiarity with the genre (and play guitar, if you can call what I do playing), so I have listened to recordings by Segovia, Williams, Isbin, and a few others. Recently, I have found (and enjoyed) several discs by Jason Vieaux.

I'm looking for recordings on CD (I don't have a TT) that might be a little more off the beaten path -- not "the usual suspects". Great playing is a must (assumed) and good-to-better recordings (those with warmth and atmospherics that show off the beauty of an acoustic guitar) are a plus. Oh, lesser known compositions would be good as well -- always trying to find something new. I'm not someone who likes to compare-&-contrast 43 different Paganini performances. I'd rather just have the "best one" and be done with it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. BTW, I tried to find a topic on this subject and didn't locate one, so let me know if one exists.

-dB (a unit measure of noise)

S Clark · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Dec 2009, 09:22 pm »

Well, this is certainly not off the beaten path, but it is an excellent rendition.

The LP is one of my favorites. The cd get high marks in reviews.

Hmmm... for some reason the photo doesn't seem to paste.

Try http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00009KHYE/sr=1-2/qid=1260393579/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music&qid=1260393579&sr=1-

dburna · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Dec 2009, 09:41 pm »

Quote from: S Clark on 9 Dec 2009, 09:22 pm

Well, this is certainly not off the beaten path, but it is an excellent rendition.

The LP is one of my favorites. The cd get high marks in reviews.

Hmmm... for some reason the photo doesn't seem to paste.

Try http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00009KHYE/sr=1-2/qid=1260393579/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music&qid=1260393579&sr=1-

Thanks, I'll check this out. Do you know anything about Romero's Vivaldi concertos?
-dB

http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Concertos-Graham-Sheen/dp/B000003FYK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1260394782&sr=8-2

nullspace · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Dec 2009, 10:34 pm »

How about Philip Hii?

http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/detailSearch.jsp?sku=GSP1012CD
http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/detailSearch.jsp?sku=GSP1024CD

Also, Paul Galbraith (if you can ignore his heavy breathing):

http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/listProduct.jsp?&scat=cd_classical&cat=cd&alpha=G

GSP is as good a place as any to retreat from the land of Segovia, Williams, and Isbin...

Also, a couple Julian Bream discs I'm partial to:
http://amzn.com/B000002RTP
http://amzn.com/B000002RUX

Regards,
John

dburna · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Dec 2009, 11:07 pm »

Quote from: nullspace on 9 Dec 2009, 10:34 pm

How about Philip Hii?

http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/detailSearch.jsp?sku=GSP1012CD
http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/detailSearch.jsp?sku=GSP1024CD

Also, Paul Galbraith (if you can ignore his heavy breathing):

http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/listProduct.jsp?&scat=cd_classical&cat=cd&alpha=G

GSP is as good a place as any to retreat from the land of Segovia, Williams, and Isbin...

Also, a couple Julian Bream discs I'm partial to:
http://amzn.com/B000002RTP
http://amzn.com/B000002RUX

Regards,
John

Cool. My local library has the Hii/Bach CD. I put it on hold.

I'm going to check out the Bream discs as well. Despite my comment about "off the beaten path," I haven't heard much Bream yet, either.

As for Galbraith, I may have problems listening to someone with "Keith Jarrett disease".

-dB

JoseM · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Dec 2009, 11:42 pm »

In my personal humble opinion, no one I have heard plays spanish guitar music as well as Narciso Yepes.

I had him on cassette over 20 years ago, and even then to my ears he played it with both technique and emotion. Two months ago I was able to spot this at the local CD store at discount and bought myself a copy and confirmed my memory of 20 years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/Malague%C3%B1a-Spanish-Guitar-Isaac-Albeniz/dp/B00004Z33R

On another note, I have a few naxos classical guitar CDs and I like the majority of them. Martha Masters was one in particular I enjoyed. I did not have the same level of enthusiasm for Vieux.

nullspace · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 03:04 am »

Quote from: dburna on 9 Dec 2009, 11:07 pm

As for Galbraith, I may have problems listening to someone with "Keith Jarrett disease".

-dB

If you're willing to give him a try, his CD of Haydn music is well-worth dealing with the occasional murmur.
http://www.gspguitar.com/jsp2/detailSearch.jsp?sku=DE3239

Regards,
John

konut · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 03:47 am »

I have enjoyed this CD from the Assad Brothers for many years.
http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/play-scarlatti-rameau-couperin-bach

If you're willing to expand your parameters a bit, this recording of Hawaiian slack key guitar, by Ozzie Kotani, always impressed me as having a presentation with classical intonation.
http://www.dancingcat.com/recordings/08022-38013-2.php

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 06:08 am »

Check out International Guitar Night II. Email Audio Circle member Russell Dawkins, its recording engineer. The four guitarists . . in solo, duo, and ensemble, are world class players in a live and very warm setting. Not from classical composers mostly, but classical in a good sense.

woodsyi · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 01:46 pm »

One person who does not get the credit he deserves as a classical guitarist is Charlie Byrd. Yes, that same Charlie Byrd of Bossa Nova fame. Classical Byrd, Washington Guitar Quintet and Blues Sonata come to mind but he has classical pieces in many of his albums. Actually, he brought classical guitar (technique) to every music he played. A man who was inspired by Django and trained with Segovia -- I like all his stuff.

chadh · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 03:38 pm »

I'm not qualified to pronounce on the "greatness" of any classical guitar recordings, but I have always enjoyed this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Transkriptionen-Gitarre-Transcriptions-Guitar/dp/B000001GG7

Chad

Tom B. · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 04:33 pm »

Goran Schollscher is a first rate Classical guitarist. He's especially known for his Bach. Dgg does a decent job recording as well.

Tom B. http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/134.html

rajacat · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 04:52 pm »

Music of Barrios...David Russell

dburna · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 05:12 pm »

Quote from: rajacat on 10 Dec 2009, 04:52 pm

Music of Barrios...David Russell

Funny you should mention this one, Rajacat. Our local library is a great resource. Spurred on by this thread, I went there last night and picked up about 10-12 classical guitar discs to try out. Two of them were by Russell -- the one you recommended and a Bach CD. Haven't had a chance to listen to any of them yet, however.

Thanks to everyone for all of the great suggestions -- I'm learning a lot.

For those folks that recommended Angel Romero -- any suggestions for a great Pepe Romero disc?

-dB

EDIT: Just listed to this Russell/Barrios. Wow. Just wow. Russell is every bit the guitarist that I am !!

Thanks, Roy, for the terrific recommendation.

OK, seriously folks, just go out and get this one. It's beautiful, fluid, wonderfully expressive....and sounds very nicely recorded. It was just the thing I needed to help me finishing trimming the Christmas tree. What a fun night.....just me and dawg. If only Fenway knew how to work a bottle opener, the evening would be complete.

rajacat · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 06:32 pm »

Villa-Lobos: Complete Music for Solo Guitar
Norbert Kraft (Performer)

I find these works to be a very interesting part of the rather limited repertoire of the solo guitar.
I'm more familiar with the Julian Bream version but this performance has received very good reviews and the sound quality supposed to be excellent and the price is right.

Tom B. · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 07:11 pm »

I've been a guitarist for most my life. In 1985, I bit the bullet and started classical studies. I studied with two Seattle based guitarists...Garry Bissirri and Steven Novacek. I started listening to everybody. As a serious vinyl collector, I had plenty Segovia, John Williams, Julian Bream, Pepe Romero, Christopher Parkening, Elliot Fisk, and yes, Mr. Yepes. I'm sorry, but Yepes isn't in the same ball park as the other musicians mentioned above. I saw him once in concert. His execution was shaky.

In the past 20 years, with the rise of David Russell and scores of other even younger instrumentalists, it's truly a golden era for classical guitarist as well as composers for the instrument........and even more arrangements for one, two, three, and four guitars. Here's but a few.

Tom B.

Tom B. · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 07:42 pm »

The last disc gives one the chance to listen to Gailbreth w/o vocals aa

Tom B.

rajacat · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 08:05 pm »

Wow! That's a great collection.

I've been out of the classical guitar scene for a number of years. I played for about 7 years and I too had some lessons from Garry Bissirri in Seattle at the now defunct ?Rosewood Guitar. I can see from your collection that there are many new guitarists now actively recording .

I'll agree with your assessment of Yepes. I found that his albums are too studied and lacking in emotional impact.

-Roy

dburna · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 Dec 2009, 08:41 pm »

Quote from: Tom B. on 10 Dec 2009, 07:42 pm

The last disc gives one the chance to listen to Gailbreth w/o vocals aa

Tom B.

Wow, Tom B.......is it OK for me to stop by and sit in your listening room for say, oh a week or two?

Thanks for all the terrific suggestions. Now I have a quest to look into many of these CDs.

Thanks to everyone for your perspective on Yepes. I was tempted to spring for a 5-CD set of his last night. Now I will investigate further if this is worth my hard-erned dollars.

Best, -dB

P.S. How is the Pavel Steidl Paganini? Methinks much of his stuff is hard to come-by.

GDeering · « **Reply #19 on:** 13 Dec 2009, 02:03 pm »

OK, Tom of you had to pick 5 CDs by non-canonical new-er players, what would you pick?

Gregg