Audio CD review:
John [guitar] Williams, Antonio Vivaldi, Joaquin Rodrigo, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mauro Giuliani, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Manuel Ponce, Louis Fremaux, Charles Sir Groves, Daniel Barenboim - The Great Guitar Concertos

John [guitar] Williams, Antonio Vivaldi, Joaquin Rodrigo, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mauro Giuliani, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Manuel Ponce, Louis Fremaux, Charles Sir Groves, Daniel Barenboim - The Great Guitar Concertos

Band: John [guitar] Williams, Antonio Vivaldi, Joaquin Rodrigo, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mauro Giuliani, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Manuel Ponce, Louis Fremaux, Charles Sir Groves, Daniel Barenboim Title: The Great Guitar Concertos Rating: Release Date: 25 October, 1990 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra in D major: I. Allegro 2: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra in D major: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra in D major - II. Largo 3: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra in D major: III. Allegro 4: Concierto de Aranjuez: I. Allegro con spirito 5: Concierto de Aranjuez: II. Adagio 6: Concierto de Aranjuez: III. Allegro gentile 7: Fantasia para un gentilhombre: I. Villano y Ricercare: Adagietto; Andante Moderato 8: Fantasia para un gentilhombre: II. Espanoleta y Fanfare de la Caballeria de Napoles: Adagio; Allegretto, molto ritmico: trmpo de Espanoleta 9: Fantasia para un gentilhombre: III. Danza de las Hachas: Allegro con Brio 10: Fantasia para un gentilhombre: IV. Canario: Allegro ma non troppo 11: Concerto No.1 in D, Op.99: I. Allegretto 12: Concerto No.1 in D, Op.99: II. Andantino alla romanza 13: Concerto No.1 in D, Op.99: III. Ritmico e cavalleresco 14: Concerto for Guitar & String Orch. in A major: I. Allegro non molto 15: Concerto for Guitar & String Orch. in A major: II. Largetto 16: Concerto for Guitar & String Orch. in A major: III. Allegro 17: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra, Op.30: I. Allegro maestoso 18: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra, Op.30: II. Andantino siciliano 19: Concerto for Guitar & String Orchestra, Op.30: III. Alla polacca 20: Concerto For Guitar & Small Orchestra: I. Allegro preciso 21: Concerto For Guitar & Small Orchestra: II. Andantino e andante; Cadenza 22: Concerto For Guitar & Small Orchestra: III. Allegretto non troppo 23: Concierto del sur: I. Allegretto 24: Concierto del sur: II. Andante 25: Concierto del sur: III. Allegro moderato e festivo

Customer Reviews Factory error Both were incorrectly pressed at the factory. I bought 2 copies of this set. The music was not classical. It was some kind of new age stuff. The number of tracks and their lengths were nowhere close to those listed on the album. Its probably a great set if you get the right music. The one-stop listen for guitar concertos These two cds also make for a good listening avenue for those who are interested in guitar but may be unfamiliar with "classical" music. I was a bit hesitant about buying this because of the price, but after listening a few times and hearing the all-around excellent quality (compositions, performance, recording), I consider this the same type of bargain as when I had purchased the Beethoven Symphony cycle conducted by Herbert von Karajan (DG 29036). In fact, it was Pat Metheny's "Secret Story" that inspired me to listen to music beyond "jazz" and become more receptive to orchestral music. And I view compositions, such as Ponce's "Concierto Del Sur", Villa-Lobos's "Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra" and Rodrigo's "Concierto De Aranjuez" as good second steps to the appreciation of guitar with orchestral music. When I think about what attracts me to this music and the playing of John Williams, I think of two words: virtuosity and humility; the idea of being excellent as a guitar player, but aware of being part of an overarching theme of which he is only one out of many musicians who bring it to fruition. . Valuable Collection Good thing it's available on CD. I wish NPR stations would play these and other great guitar music more than they do. Starting off with Vivaldi's Concerto in D Major, I much prefer the recording on Williams' Seville Concert CD. The same goes for the Aranjuez Adagio. I also prefer Paco de Lucia's performance of the Aranjuez allegro movements. Aranjuez seems to just keep getting more legendary with each new recording from just about every guitar master. I like Rodrigo's "Fantasia" almost as much as Aranjuez, but I like Pepe Romero's version just as much or even a little more than Williams'. I'm not that crazy about the few Castelnuovo-Tedesco's compositions that I've heard, but I find that his concerto on this CD is exceptional, both in melody and theme development. Vivaldi again starts off CD number 2 with a somewhat pleasant concerto. The Giuliani Concerto is an outstanding work that blends beautifully the classical orchestra and the guitar. Furthermore, the guitar comes through loud and clear, overcoming the usual problem of the orchestra drowning out the guitar. I'm not sure if the mike was placed at just the right position for the guitar or what. In any case, it sounds fabulous. I'm luke warm toward the Villa-Lobos Concerto but find the very beginning of the second movement mesmerizing. As with Castelnuovo-Tedesco, few pieces from Ponce inspire me; however, "Concierto del Sur" is a surprisingly captivating concerto with its lyrical qualities and dynamics. Moreover, the third movement ends with an exciting bang. This CD was well worth the price of a double CD collection. . You can see a complete list of all John [guitar] Williams, Antonio Vivaldi, Joaquin Rodrigo, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mauro Giuliani, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Manuel Ponce, Louis Fremaux, Charles Sir Groves, Daniel Barenboim discography, or go back to the John [guitar] Williams, Antonio Vivaldi, Joaquin Rodrigo, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mauro Giuliani, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Manuel Ponce, Louis Fremaux, Charles Sir Groves, Daniel Barenboim tabs