Your favorite interpreters

[Keelor]

Hello,

I hope that topic hasn't been submitted yet...

So what are your favorite interpreters, and (very important question) WHY ?
As for me, the answers with no arguments are totaly unuseful...

I think that THE best is Leo Brouwer. He has amazing skills, he's really a virtuoso. And moreover, he uses his technic to play beautifully... And not the opposite. Not like Eliot Fisk. :D

Then, I find Julian Bream good. Very nice, very clear, etc...

And finally, Pepe Romero. He is a great technician, but I sometimes don't like his performances... For example, I love his version of "Introduction & Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op.9 - 05", by Sor, and I HATE the Spanish Suite by Sanz.
In fact he is very... "free" ? :shock: (help, I don't know the word !) in his interpretations.


I won't quote John Williams : I often don't like his performances. Too dull, not enough musical... Or "too much" : he plays Scarlatti with an excessive rubato.


As usual, sorry for my bad english. If you have read the whole post, you are very brave. :D

[Todd]

For me, being mainly a flamenco guy, Paco De Lucia is my favorite
player.

I think Bream stands above everybody in the classical guitar realm.
For me, he is to classical guitar, as Paco is to flamenco.

I agree about John Williams. It just sounds like notes coming
at me quickly and clearly, but not like music.

Toddk

[M. Stephenson]

This may be off topic, as these three guitarist are not your typical classical guitarists, but they are by far my favorites..

These are the only three guitarist that I can listen to over and over and over. I like them because they are lyrical and they understand how to take liberties with timing - I get the impression that they are playing from the spirit whcih in turn affects my spirit:

Gerardo Nuñez: Flamenco. Some songs bring tears to my eyes.

Steve Hackett: Classical. He has a Rock & Roll past where he was known for long sustained lyrical playing. This lyricism has translated very well into his classical compositions. Both my wife and I never tire of his music. www.stevehackett.com

Aris Quiroga: Classical/Brazillian. Never heard of him? He is my guitar instructor. He has three CD's but no way of marketing them. He music is played from the heart with virtuoistic technical accuracy. When listening to many guitarists on "shuffle", he is often hard to distenguish from the famous Flamenco players. He has gone from playing classical pieces to playing mostly his own compositions. www.arisguitarist.com

[NGiorgio]

As for favorite interpreters, I will list a few.

Jorge Morel, an excellent technician, a lively performer, wonderful interpreter of Latin American music and a prolific composer. Had the privilege being able to study with Maestro Morel and he has been a great inspiration to me.

Paco deLucia, who has done so much for the Art of Flamenco. An innovator with amazing technical skills, and the ability to attract large audiences, all over the world, to his music. His influence has improved the art form, and raised the bar for flamenco guitarists.

Gerardo Nunez, an amazing flamenco guitarist who dazzles you with his virtuosity and at the same time, moves you emotionally. Purists may not care for some of his modern material, but when I listen to his music it makes me want to pick up a guitar and play. I think that he is an outstanding interpreter of flamenco music.

Carlos Barbosa-Lima, who is an excellent interpreter of classical, Brazilian and contemporary music. I enjoy Brazilian material in many forms and he is equally adept at Villa-Lobos as he is with Antonio-Carlos Jobim. He also works wonders with the music of Gershwin. A very versatile player, with terrific technique.

[Scott]

Depends for me. I feel various players are better at some genre / sub
- Bream for anything ren/baroque. Bream has a clarity that seems to "fit" to me. I'm sure his lute playing has influenced this.
- Pepe for anything romantic -- what I would call Spanish based / influenced. He has a touch and feel (Keelor said free interpretation) that this music requires. By far my favorite.
- Brouwer modern (composition mainly, I've only heard a few of his recordings)
- I've also recently been enjoying Yeppes - could be the ten string guitar with the additional sonic pallate.

[Keelor]

Depends for me. I feel various players are better at some genre / sub
- Bream for anything ren/baroque. Bream has a clarity that seems to "fit" to me. I'm sure his lute playing has influenced this.
[...]
- Brouwer modern (composition mainly, I've only heard a few of his recordings)

Brouwer, only for modern music ? Have you ever listened Scarlatti and Robert de Visée played by Brouwer ? As for me, I think I prefer Brouwer, thanks to his clarity, his style and his very rich ornamentation.

As the opposite, Bream is more rigorous. Don't you think ?

But the two interpretations are correct. Bream also plays beautifully ( Bach's Praeludio BWV 996 :shock: ). It's like the "fight" "Glenn Gould VS Scott Ross" : every man to his taste. :)



If you want to listen Brouwer playing Robert de Visée: Sample : Suite en ré mineur/Suite in D minor, Prelude (http://www.musicabona.com/samples/fr9721-2_1_01.mp3)

[Scott]

Keelor,
Thanks for the sample. No I haven't had a chance to listen to any of his recordings other than two of his own pieces, but I see I need to get some of Brouwers recordings. I have played through most of the first two series of his etudes and Fugue No. 1 is on my short list to learn and have listened to most of his compositions (as recorded by others) so now am intrigued. Thanks for turning me on to someone new!

[portlandgreg2]

I suppose it varies from piece to piece; I would argue that it is too general of a statement to suggest that a particular performer plays a period of music better than anyone else. Here's few names that come to mind when I think of favorite interpreters:

Stefano Grondona: Dark and emotive. Can actually feel exhausting to listen to sometimes.

Paulo Bellinati: His rhythm is what draws me to his playing.

Martha Masters: I saw her play last year. Her playing had a full, round sensousness quality that I don't think I had heard before. She made what I thought was quite a few mistakes, but she still stunned the crowd with her interpretive style.

Frederic Zigante: He's making me reconsider what a good Bach interpretation is.

Finally, Andrés Segovia: His interpretation of Romance de los pinos (recorded live on the Gold Collection) feels completely genuine and retrospective.[/b]

[edwardcav]

Greg,

I love Romance de los pinos. I have heard many, and agree that the live Segovia recording is beautiful. Equally as beautiful, is the same arrangement played by Parkening in his tribute CD to Segovia - but with no mistakes :P and a much clearer quality.

for the closest recording to the composition, Pepe Romero's RDLP is fantastic also.

ah my first post for a week.

[koos]

Just like to add the katona twins. They have a recording of pieces by haendel and scarlatti. Nice example of a fantastic duo.

[portlandgreg2]

Edwardcav,

Check out Segovia's studio version on The Segovia Collection, Volume 2. It's played cleanly and pretty touching also. I also like Parkening's version. I'll have to head to the library and look for Pepe's.

[edwardcav]

As for my favourite interpreter, I'd have to say a few also.

I really like Pepe Romero's take on nearly anything Spanish. Rodrigo, Tarréga and Albéniz - well, as for Isaac and his Asturias - I had the pleasure of seeing Carlos Bonell play this live. My oh my, what a performance. Everyone's head in the crowd flinched back when he agressively executed the massive rasgeo in that piece. (my attempt to put his performance to words; fail. you have to see this man live)

But I am a huge fan of John Williams. Artists I'd like to acquire more music of include: David Russell, Christopher parkening and Carlos Bonell. I like these guys.

[rumin]

my favorite interpreter is none other than the maestro andres segovia. he's great! next would be pepe romero. I also like the assad brothers. how they played the andante/allegro from the tango suite by astor piazzolla just moved me.

[Jonny Hotnuts]

Does no one other than I like Alirio Diaz's interps?
I think his version of Andres Segovia's Estudio Remembranza is better than Segovias.

[Mikey]

I am truly surprised and a little concerned that no one has listed Christopher Parkening's interpretations as among their favorite. Like it or not he is a wonderful performer. Granted, he does take certain liberties when he plays and may be overly dramatic in the eyes of many, but I feel its warranted. What are people's arguments against him> He plays cleanly, genuinely, passionately, and stylistically correct. What more do you want?

I am also very very fond of Denis Azabagic's interpretations. He is an amazing young player-one of my new favorites. Check out his recording of Invocacion y Danse by Rodrigo. Beautiful.

Antigoni Goni is also a very passionate and sincere performer- saw her play last summer and it was probably the best classical guitar performance I've seen.

As for Julian Bream. Whats all the praise about? Personally, I find Bream's playing bland, dry, and-to be blunt- boring. While he has advanced the modern repertoire and been a very significant player, and I greatly admire because of it, I can't listen to him.

Mikey.

[Guillermo Rosado]

Does no one other than I like Alirio Diaz's interps?
I think his version of Andres Segovia's Estudio Remembranza is better than Segovias.
I do !!!, but I have to admit that the possibility exists that the reason for this is related to the "music I grew up listening to". Jonny, I´ve studied and played the guitar since age 6, and I´m 48 now. Many, many pieces that I remember from my childhood come from Alirio Díaz LP´s that my Dad had at home. So, If You ask me who interprets Remembranza, or Seis por Derecho, or Invocation and Dance, or many many other pieces of either the classical or modern guitar reportoire the best, my definite answer is Alirio, however I wouldn´t say the same if You ask who the best interpreter is for Aranjuez.
Best Regards
Guillermo

[thaddeusb]

Although i am a classical player now, I used to play a bit of flamenco and, of course still listen to it so i one of mine has to be Pace de Lucia. He is genius.

For the classical world it is most definately David Russel. Everyone should check it out because, before edcav mentioned him, I wassnt sure if anyone else had even heard of him. hes great.

thad

[jackcec]

I agree with thaddeusb completely :lol: . David's rendition of the Recuerdoes de la Alhambra in his recording "Reflections of Spain" is so unique and like no others you ever listened to, so alive he made it. Check it out and you know what i mean.

jack.