|
David Russell plays Baroque Music |

|
Jean Baptiste Loeillet (1680-1730)
Suite No. 1 in G minor
1. I. Allemande
2. II. Corente
3. III. Sarabanda
4. IV. Aria
5. V. Minuet
6. VI. Giga
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Sonata in B-flat Major, R. 46
7. I. Largo .. MP3
8. II. Allegro
9. III. Largo II
10. IV. Allegro II
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Sonata in A minor, Op. 1, No. 4 (HWV 362)
11. I. Larghetto
12. II. Allegro
13. III. Adagio
14. IV. Allegro
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
15. Sonata in D Major, K. 490
16. Sonata in D Major. K. 491 .. MP3
17. Sonata in C Major, K. 501
18. Sonata in C Major, K. 308
19. Sonata in C Major, K. 309
20. Sonata in G Major, K. 390
21. Sonata in G. Major, K. 391
22. Sonata in F minor, K. 238
23. Sonata in F minor, K, 239 .. MP3
Arrangements by David Russell
|
I have always admired the artistry of David Russell
and on this recording he has excelled even his own
already high standards. The phrasing and voicing
flow so naturally from him that it seems so obviously
correct and tasteful, yet to achieve it is a gift
imparted to so few. Ornamentation is so well articulated
as to appear effortless; in fact any difficulties
are swept aside so that all that remains is the
purity of the music.
In the final analysis everything
about this disc radiates quality, the player, the
music and the recording are all of the highest calibre
and I would go as far as to say that this is the
finest guitar recordings of baroque music ever.
Andy Daly, musicweb.uk.net
If you normally shy away from Baroque Guitar music,
put on this CD and go immediately to track 15. The
martial-flavored opening of Scarlatti's Sonata in
D major K.490 immediately grabs the attention, drawing
you into its special world with its cascading runs,
march cadences, and some surprisingly grinding dissonances.
David Russell's brilliant arrangement takes full
advantage of the myriad tone colors of his instrument,
and his slower, more stately tempo turns this brief
work into a miniature tone poem. He's greatly aided
by Telarc's warm, vivid recording, which turns your
listening area into a small recital hall, with detailed,
naturally-voiced upper registers and richly resounding
bass notes. I found myself playing this selection
repeatedly, and was pleased to discover an entire
disc full of riches as I ventured beyond it.
The other eight Scarlatti sonatas
are just as beautifully arranged, and listening
to Russell's performances never entails that harpsichord
fatigue that comes from hearing too many of them
at one sitting. The program actually opens with
the plangent strains of Loeillet's Suite in G minor,
which also began life on the harpsichord--and also
benefits from the guitar's warm tones. The Vivaldi
B-flat Sonata (originally for cello) and Handel's
A minor Sonata, originally for flute and basso continuo,
both sound quite natural on their new instrument,
thanks to Russell's mastery of each composer's idiom.
So there you have it, an easy and irresistible entry
into the world of Baroque guitar.
Victor Carr Jr., ClassicsToday.com
|
|
Release Date: 01/23/2001
Label: Telarc Catalog #: 80559
Date of Recording: 3/2000
Venue: Academy of Arts & Letters, New York City
MP3 audio / 40 kbps / 250k |