Spain may be the ancestral home of the guitar, but Italy has produced wonderful guitarists and guitar music—witness Italian virtuoso Emanuele Segre and his new...

Spain may be the ancestral home of the guitar, but Italy has produced wonderful guitarists and guitar music—witness Italian virtuoso Emanuele Segre and his new release on Delos, Italian Guitar Concertos. Segre brings his “rhythmic buoyancy,” “delicate touch,” and “persuasive playing” to a delightful program ranging from Vivaldi and Giuliani concertos to new creations. Beginning with an aria and concerto by Vivaldi, the father of the concerto, the album then features the Gran Quintetto by Mauro Giuliani. One of the greatest composers of music for classical guitar, Giuliani’s performances on the guitar were legendary—Giuliani knew Beethoven, who wrote guitar music especially for him. (And the piece itself is reminiscent of Beethoven, particularly the instrumental introduction.) The album finishes with two enchanting and congenial contemporary works for guitar and orchestra: Giovanni Sollima’s dreamy The Black Owl, and Carlo Boccadoro’s haunting Dulcis memoria II.

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REVIEW:

The Italian guitarist Emanuele Segre’s dazzling technical gifts never take center stage to overwhelm the music itself with facile tricks, but rather serve the demands of the compositions he takes on, allowing for the music itself to be the main event, not the playing of it. But play he does with a mix of bravura and delicacy, sobriety and passion, as called for by the various moments in the music.

– Rafael's Music Notes (Rafael de Acha)