Fernando Paz

With a capaciously-filled boxset of a dozen CDs made up of attractive individual programmes and entitled The Spanish Guitar, Glossa reintroduces the superb playing of José Miguel Moreno. And with recordings from 1991-2004 which still sound fresh and vivid today. A new essay and all the sung texts are included in the physical booklet that completes this limited-edition set.

Giulio Cesare Ricci is particularly fond of the music of the Argentinean tango king Astor Piazzolla, and so his label Fone repeatedly releases high-quality music by Piazzolla. On "Duettango", it is a top-class quartet that brings the Tango Nuevo to life: At the centre is violinist Fernando Suarez Paz, who played tango with Piazzolla himself in his Quarteto Nuevo in the 70s. Next to him, we hear his daughter Cecilia, whose singing is in no way inferior to her father's playing. Now you need a bandoneon player for the tango, and on this record it is Cesare Chiachiaretta, one of the best in the world at the moment. Add Filippo Arlia, a classically trained pianist, and you have a tremendously emotional and virtuoso tango formation, captured by Ricci in excellent sound quality.

Excellent choice of brazilian standards in an intimate conversation-type recital. The choice of a simple, but masterfully played guitar just adds to the magistral interpretation by Morente who proves her versatility outside flamenco. The sound is airy and spacious as every good recording should be. A treat for audiophiles.