ALEXANDRA CHRISTODIMOU & YANNIS PETRIDIS
Rhapsody For Two Guitars, Lyra
The artistic community of our country is happy to embody remarkably
important guitar duos, to begin of course with Evangelos and Liza.
Students of theirs are the guitarists Alexandra Christodimou and Yannis
Petridis, who for the first time are presented in discography with
the wide range CD that was released a few months ago by Lyra. It presents
works by Kyriakos Giorginakis ("Greek Memories"), Joaquin
Rodrigo ("Tonadilla"), Astor Piazzolla ("Tango Suite"),
J.S.Bach ("Italian Concerto") and George Gershwin ("Rhapsody
in blue"), the last two transcribed for two guitars by the artists
themselves. Even though it is a production of low profile it has the
ambition of gaining a high place in the European Classical Music market,
mostly by its interpetation.
Christodimou - Petridis , both rewarded, with an almost excellent
technique, perform in an ideal way most works in the present recording.
In my opinion, their interpretation in "Greek Memories",
by the early gone Kyriakos Giorginakis (1950-1989), is notable. Perhaps
this is a minimum offer in the composer's memory for the 10 years
of his "absence". Only the three last parts of the work
are recorded ( Trata and Pyrofani are missing. The whole work was
for the first time recorded in 1985 by Maro Razi-Yanni Yakoumaki by
Motivo.)However, these are more than adequate to confirm how great
the loss of the composer is. Referring to his composition , he once
wrote: "This is a series of pictures conceived by sounds and
roots that even though we may consciously deny, often reluctantly
jump ahead of us, full of life and identify us".
From the rest of the works, all captivating, I enjoy the performance
of Rodrigo's "Tonadilla", a major and demanding work. (Who
isn't familiar with "Concierto de Aranjuez", at least in
Miles Davis's "Sketches of Spain") .
Divine Piazzolla's "Tango Suite" - three intensely rhythmical
tangos in which the guitar is also used as percussion - very soon
became an inseparable part of every contemporary duo's repertoire.
The interpretation , no exaltations , is dignified and "European".
"Rhapsody in blue", in the two guitar version, even though
not as intriguing as in the original form, is nevertheless upstanding
and deserves our attention. The interpretation is definitely superior
to the transcription's quality.
However, my conclusion is that this is an excellent - worth buying
recording of wide range. The brochure is well informed even though
I object to the translation in Greek of "Rhapsody in blue".
I wish to the artist's well continuation and hope their next recording
will enclose only Greek works.
