
Celebration / Los Romeros
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- Sony Masterworks
- August 18, 2009
Half a century after walking onto the world stage as the first classical guitar quartet, Los Romeros continue to shape and contribute to the lexicon of classical guitar. On "Celebration" the internationally acclaimed "Royal Family of the Guitar" celebrate the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary. The recording embodies the literature representative of their musical journey. From the "Malaguenas" of their father, the first pieces they played as a quartet, to "De Cadiz a la Habana", especially written for this recording and "Tonadilla" written by revered composer Joaquin Rodrigo, the expanse of their artistry is apparent and as vibrant as ever. - RCA
R E V I E W S
"This is the latest incarnation of “The Royal Family of the Guitar,” commemorating 50 years since the beginning of the guitar quartet as an art form. The original family was built around father Celedonio Romero and his three virtuoso guitarist sons Celin, Pepe and Angel. They moved from Spain to the U.S. in 1957 and immediately began a concert career and performances all over the world. Their recordings for Mercury and Philips are well-known and their quartet inspired many composers to create works for guitar quartet and guitar quartet plus orchestra. (I once recorded them for The Standard School Broadcast.)
Founder Celedonio Romero passed away in 1996 and two of his sons plus grandsons Celino and Lito now continue the tradition. In 2007 the new formulation of The Romeros was awarded the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award during Grammy Week in LA. The program they have created for this new CD is subtitled “From Baroque to Bretón.” The works of Bach and Pachelbel take care of the first half of that title, and the opening Prelude by Tomas Bretón follows the second half. The latter is a classic work of Spanish nationalism and is thrilling in its arrangement for four guitars. Some solo guitar tracks alternate with the massed strings, as on most previous Romero Family recordings. For example, the familiar Recollections of the Alhambra is solo by Pepe, and Celino plays La Paloma by Iradier as a solo. The Cuarteto No. 1 is a short four-movement suite for the four guitarists by a priest-composer of their acquaintance. Pepe is known equally well as a virtuoso flamenco guitarist, and his piece Farrucas de Sabicas is an homage to that great flamenco guitarist. The closing track, Malaguenas, is for the entire quartet, from the late Celedonio."
- John Sunier, Audiophile Audition [11/18/2009]
R E V I E W S
"This is the latest incarnation of “The Royal Family of the Guitar,” commemorating 50 years since the beginning of the guitar quartet as an art form. The original family was built around father Celedonio Romero and his three virtuoso guitarist sons Celin, Pepe and Angel. They moved from Spain to the U.S. in 1957 and immediately began a concert career and performances all over the world. Their recordings for Mercury and Philips are well-known and their quartet inspired many composers to create works for guitar quartet and guitar quartet plus orchestra. (I once recorded them for The Standard School Broadcast.)
Founder Celedonio Romero passed away in 1996 and two of his sons plus grandsons Celino and Lito now continue the tradition. In 2007 the new formulation of The Romeros was awarded the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award during Grammy Week in LA. The program they have created for this new CD is subtitled “From Baroque to Bretón.” The works of Bach and Pachelbel take care of the first half of that title, and the opening Prelude by Tomas Bretón follows the second half. The latter is a classic work of Spanish nationalism and is thrilling in its arrangement for four guitars. Some solo guitar tracks alternate with the massed strings, as on most previous Romero Family recordings. For example, the familiar Recollections of the Alhambra is solo by Pepe, and Celino plays La Paloma by Iradier as a solo. The Cuarteto No. 1 is a short four-movement suite for the four guitarists by a priest-composer of their acquaintance. Pepe is known equally well as a virtuoso flamenco guitarist, and his piece Farrucas de Sabicas is an homage to that great flamenco guitarist. The closing track, Malaguenas, is for the entire quartet, from the late Celedonio."
- John Sunier, Audiophile Audition [11/18/2009]
Product Description:
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Release Date: August 18, 2009
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UPC: 886974582724
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Catalog Number: 88697458272
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Label: Sony Masterworks
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Number of Discs: 1
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Composer: Los, Romeros
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Performer: Los Romeros