In the early nineteenth century, when the virtuoso guitar concerto was born, Italy and Spain produced their share of outstanding musicians who were, like British inventions, more likely to prosper outside their homeland: Sor and Aguado left Spain, Carulli and Molino departed from Italy; all four converged on Paris where, no doubt with much exaggeration, the rivalry of the supporters of the last two was depicted in a cartoon. Molino has derived negligible posthumous benefit from recording or concert performance, nor has Carulli done much better, the spotlight resting doggedly on some of their contemporaries.
Whether it was Giuliani (who decamped from Italy to Vienna and finally fled in the opposite direction) or Carulli who wrote the first virtuosic guitar concerto, we do not know, but whereas all three of the former's have been recorded, only Carulli's Op. 8a has been thus honoured—for, it must be said, its historical rather than its musical significance. That his Concerto in E minor has been passed over in its favour says more for the follow-my-leader programming habits of guitarists than anything else, for it is a much superior work—as is also Molino's in the same key. Pepe Romero is to be congratulated for bringing to light some of the fatter fish in this small pond. The smallness of the pond is illustrated by the inclusion of two arrangements of violin/orchestra works by Mozart; they are of course far less difficult for the guitarist than are the concertos, but their musical superiority is inversely proportional. Romero's fine tone and cultured delivery almost succeed in concealing the fact that the guitar does not have the violin's sustaining power.
The ASMF's alert performances suggest that they enjoyed working with a guitarist whose technical proficiency is second to none, and who—as here—is as capable of elegance as he is of pyrotechnical display. (by John Duarte)
Pepe Romero (born March 8, 1944 in Málaga, Spain) is a world-renowned classical and flamenco guitarist. He is particularly famous for his outstanding technique and colorful musical interpretations on the instrument.
As a soloist Pepe Romero has appeared in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, and many countries around the world with the Toronto, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco and Dallas Symphony Orchestras, as well as with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New York, Bogota and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the London Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, I Musici, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica, the Hungarian State Orchestra, the Spanish National Orchestra, the Spanish National Radio/Television Orchestra, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, The New Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Springfiled Orchestra, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the American Sinfonietta and the Bournemouth Symphony. He has been a special guest at the festivals of Salzburg, Israel, Schleswig-Holstein, Menuhin, Osaka, Granada, Istanbul, Ravinia, Garden State, Hollywood Bowl, Blossom, Wolf Trap, Saratoga and Hong Kong.
Since his first recording (at the age of 15) he has recorded over 50 solo albums and 30 albums as part of the famed guitar quartet The Romeros. He has played for Presidents Carter and Nixon, the Queen of the Netherlands, the Prince of Wales and Pope John Paul II. He has numerous international recording awards to his credit and has received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from University of Victoria.
His contributions to the field of classical guitar have inspired a number of distinguished composers to write works specifically for him, including Joaquín Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, Rev. Francisco de Madina, Lorenzo Palomo, Michael Zearott, and Celedonio Romero.
Pepe Romero is the second son of Celedonio Romero, who was his only guitar teacher. His first professional appearance was in a shared concert with his father when Pepe was only seven years old. In 1957 Celedonio Romero left Franco's Spain for the United States with his family.
On February 11, 2000, King Juan Carlos I of Spain knighted Pepe Romero and his brothers, Celin and Ángel, into the Order of "Isabel la Catolica." The official ceremony of this high honor took place at the USC Thornton School of Music, and included a gala performance by The Romeros with the Thornton Chamber Orchestra. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar at the Thornton School, where he was named "Distinguished Artist in Residence" in 2004.
Although originally a classical guitarist he is talented in Flamenco and a popular Flamenco performer. (by wikipedia)
Whether it was Giuliani (who decamped from Italy to Vienna and finally fled in the opposite direction) or Carulli who wrote the first virtuosic guitar concerto, we do not know, but whereas all three of the former's have been recorded, only Carulli's Op. 8a has been thus honoured—for, it must be said, its historical rather than its musical significance. That his Concerto in E minor has been passed over in its favour says more for the follow-my-leader programming habits of guitarists than anything else, for it is a much superior work—as is also Molino's in the same key. Pepe Romero is to be congratulated for bringing to light some of the fatter fish in this small pond. The smallness of the pond is illustrated by the inclusion of two arrangements of violin/orchestra works by Mozart; they are of course far less difficult for the guitarist than are the concertos, but their musical superiority is inversely proportional. Romero's fine tone and cultured delivery almost succeed in concealing the fact that the guitar does not have the violin's sustaining power.
The ASMF's alert performances suggest that they enjoyed working with a guitarist whose technical proficiency is second to none, and who—as here—is as capable of elegance as he is of pyrotechnical display. (by John Duarte)
Pepe Romero (born March 8, 1944 in Málaga, Spain) is a world-renowned classical and flamenco guitarist. He is particularly famous for his outstanding technique and colorful musical interpretations on the instrument.
As a soloist Pepe Romero has appeared in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, and many countries around the world with the Toronto, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco and Dallas Symphony Orchestras, as well as with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New York, Bogota and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the London Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, I Musici, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica, the Hungarian State Orchestra, the Spanish National Orchestra, the Spanish National Radio/Television Orchestra, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, The New Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Springfiled Orchestra, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the American Sinfonietta and the Bournemouth Symphony. He has been a special guest at the festivals of Salzburg, Israel, Schleswig-Holstein, Menuhin, Osaka, Granada, Istanbul, Ravinia, Garden State, Hollywood Bowl, Blossom, Wolf Trap, Saratoga and Hong Kong.
Since his first recording (at the age of 15) he has recorded over 50 solo albums and 30 albums as part of the famed guitar quartet The Romeros. He has played for Presidents Carter and Nixon, the Queen of the Netherlands, the Prince of Wales and Pope John Paul II. He has numerous international recording awards to his credit and has received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from University of Victoria.
His contributions to the field of classical guitar have inspired a number of distinguished composers to write works specifically for him, including Joaquín Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, Rev. Francisco de Madina, Lorenzo Palomo, Michael Zearott, and Celedonio Romero.
Pepe Romero is the second son of Celedonio Romero, who was his only guitar teacher. His first professional appearance was in a shared concert with his father when Pepe was only seven years old. In 1957 Celedonio Romero left Franco's Spain for the United States with his family.
On February 11, 2000, King Juan Carlos I of Spain knighted Pepe Romero and his brothers, Celin and Ángel, into the Order of "Isabel la Catolica." The official ceremony of this high honor took place at the USC Thornton School of Music, and included a gala performance by The Romeros with the Thornton Chamber Orchestra. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar at the Thornton School, where he was named "Distinguished Artist in Residence" in 2004.
Although originally a classical guitarist he is talented in Flamenco and a popular Flamenco performer. (by wikipedia)
Personnel:
Pepe Romero (guitar)
+
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Iona Brown
Tracklist:
Ferdinando Carulli: Concerto for Guitar in A major, Op. 140 "Petit Concerto de Société":
01. Allegro (Carulli) 7.15
02. Largo (Carulli) 3.02
03. Allegro (Carulli) 5.17
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E major, K 261
04. Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E major, K 261 (Mozart) 7.01
Francesco Molino: Concerto for Guitar in E minor, Op. 56
05. Allegro maestoso (Molino) 12.13
06. Maestoso molto (Molino) 5.13
07. Rondo (Allegro) (Molino) 6.51
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra no 2 in C major, K 373:
08. Rondo for Violin and Orchestra no 2 in C major, K 373 (Mozart) 6.46
07. Rondo (Allegro) (Molino) 6.51
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra no 2 in C major, K 373:
08. Rondo for Violin and Orchestra no 2 in C major, K 373 (Mozart) 6.46
Ferdinando Carulli: Concerto for Guitar in A major, Op. 8a:
09. Allegro (Carulli) 10.39
10. Polonaise (Carulli) 5.27