gee - I might be interested in the concierto andaluz, but it can't be downloaded without downloading (for 9 credits) two pieces of which I already have two or three recordings. For the classical music lover, emusic has really discouraged finding less often performed material, the main thing for which it was worthwhile. And the youngsters lamenting not bring able to cherrypick greatest hits think they have a problem!
I would have never expected to enjoy a guitar concerto, but this piece is my favorite find of 2008 and one of my favorite classical pieces. Wonderful!
I imagine you know the piece and you're wondering if the recording is up to much, but there's no need to worry. The sound is fresh, the two allegros are bursting with life and the adagio is full of its usual restrained mournful sorrow. The same is true of the Fanstasia, which is both delicate and lively in this recording.
Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez is a beautiful guitar concerto whose melancholy adagio has been performed by various artists, including an operatic version by Sarah Brightman and a jazz version by Miles Davis. This is one of three Naxos versions. I chose this one after reading reviews and comparing versions at the Naxos website. I have since compared it with the version that John Williams did with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and I ended up favoring this version. This version sounds more Spanish than the Williams/Ormandy version. I also found it harder to tear myself away from it, whereas when I put on the Williams/Ormandy version, I wanted to get back to the Gallen/Valdes version. Overall, this is a beautiful and masterful recording of Concierto de Aranjuez and two more pieces of music by Rodrigo. I highly recommend it, and I plan to check out more of the Asturias Symphony Orchestra's recordings of Rodrigo's music.
