Baroque Guitar Recital

Aaron Brock died of an unsuspected heart problem in 2006 aged just 31. A graduate of the Eastman school he was building a recital career and teaching at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. His first CD was released 4 months before his death. The works on this disc were written by various composers from Bach to 20th century classical guitar virtuosi.

Kazuhito Yamashita is widely recognized as one of the world's most premier virtuoso guitarists. His dazzling technique and powerful expression has received accolades throughout the musical world. With an impressive list of almost 80 recordings and numerous original arrangements of such works as Mussorgski's Pictures at an Exhibition, Stravinsky's Firebird, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scherezade and Dvorak's Symphony of the New World, Yamashita is a legend within guitar circles.

Peter Blanchette - Style Brisé: The Broken Style (2011) {Peter Blanchette, Archguitar - Self edited}
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© 2011 Peter Blanchette, Archguitar | Self edited
Classical / Medieval / Baroque / Renaissance / Chamber Music / 11-string Alto Guitar

An excellent choice for an introduction to the archguitar, this is a great recording with its smooth and lovely tone. The arrangements are of pieces from the baroque, renaissance and medieval periods. The Handel Sarabande and my variations on it have long been one of my audience’s favorites. While most musicians hate to hear that their music puts people to sleep, here, I consider it a compliment. Many listeners have said Style Brisé helps them relax and fall asleep at night. It's funny how they seem to say this almost apologetically - I am honored and flattered to accompany them to the threshold of their dreams!

Released on 15th October, Velvet Armour is the follow-up to Ton Scherpenzeel’s 2013 album The Lion’s Dream. A highly respected musician, the legendary keyboardist is known for being the founder of Dutch band Kayak and for his work with Camel, and has recently become a prized acquisition to the Friendly Folk record label headed up by Kathy Keller…

Mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozená's collection of vocal solos (plus a few instrumental tracks) from the early Baroque, Lettere Amorose, "Love Letters," is a delight. The recital includes some familiar pieces like d'India's Cruda Amarilli, Monteverdi's Sì dolce è il tormento, and Sanz's giddy dance, Canarios, but consists largely of repertoire that's more obscure but no less engaging. Merula's lullaby chaconne Hor ch'è tempo di dormire is a jewel, gorgeously idiosyncratic and deeply emotional. Caccini's erotic Odi, Euterpe, 'I dolce canto could be mistaken for mature Monteverdi at his most mischievous, but it dates from 1601 or 1602, when Monteverdi was at an early stage in his career. A real standout of the album is Strozzi's L'Eraclito amoroso: Udite amanti, which alternates sections of extravagantly expressive recitative with a ravishingly lyrical chaconne. Kozená easily has the technique to make the music glow and the dramatic gifts to bring it movingly to life. Her sharply characterized interpretations of the songs make each of them seem as fully realized and potent as a short operatic scene. Her voice has the burnished warmth of a mezzo, but can gleam when she soars into her upper register, and throughout she maintains an exquisite purity.

Judicaël Perroy has become widely known as an extraordinary virtuoso classical guitarist and musician with several prizes to his credit. In 1997 he captured the prestigious first prize of the 15th Guitar Foundation of America International Competition and Convention awarding him tour of the United States and Canada with more than sixty concerts and master classes. In between his North American tour that year, he gave several concerts in France where his performances were broadcast live on France-Musique followed by extensive recital tours throughout the world.