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RHAPSODY FOR TWO GUITARS
GERSHWIN : Rhapsody in blue
RODRIGO : Tonadilla
GIORGINAKIS : Greek Memories
PIAZZOLLA : Tango Suite
BACH : Italian Concerto
Alexandra Christodimou and Yannis Petridis
Lyra CD 066626
A powerful arrangement opens
this recording and the immediate impression is of good recorded
sound. The players attack the music with precision and sufficient
dramatic flair to convey the squalling and tempestuous lyricism
that Gershwin unravels at every turn. Because of the extreme
range of the instrumental writing the guitars frequently sound
like Chip and Dale fighting over some nuts : guitarists seem
hell-bent on the road to creating mammoth transcriptions so they
must expect their instuments to occasionally resemble cartoon
reflections of the original article.
Rodrigo's Tonadilla pops along with solid adherence to
the cantering pulse of this appealing piece. No slouchers in
the technical department Christodimou and Petridis hold the music
together with strength and touches of delicacy when required.
The Greek Memories by Giorginakis are striking pieces
and the opening Grape Harvest is a thrilling composition
with tambora effects and rippling bursts followed by a lovely
peaceful song Harvest that captures images of sundrenched
fields and is then thrown into the air with the joyous Fiesta.
All good stuff so far and with the fiendish Tango Suite
they manage well. They understand the need to combine tight rythmic
aloofness with sudden swatces of syrupy lyricism that are trademarks
of Piazzolla.
Bach.'s Italian Concerto positively skips with effervescence.
The playing is sharp with well controlled contouring of the tone.
All three movements are arranged with imaginative and intelligent
setting of the voices.
A recording with some fiery moments and well worth a listen.
How you find a copy in a record store I would not know and the
packaging would cause it to be ignored amongst a selection of
more imaginatively designed covers.
Tim Panting, Classical
Guitar
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