Fantasia Andaluza – Petri Kumela & Joonas Widenius – Various works for classical and flamenco guitar – Alba Music

by | Nov 9, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Fantasia Andaluza – Petri Kumela & Joonas Widenius – Various works for classical and flamenco guitar  [TrackList follows] – Alba Music multichannel SACD ABCD391, 49:00 (7/29/16) ****:

A unique disc that offers Spanish guitar with flamenco guitar.

Fantasía Andaluza, the guitar duo record of Kumela and Widenius brings something a bit new to the music world. It’s a mixture of flamenco guitar and Classical guitar. As the liner notes point out, the two instruments have travelled through history side by side, at times very close and at others further apart.

The two top Finnish guitarists on this disc mirror their instruments one against the other. The repertoire is based on the traditional Spanish guitar music, but the two guitars together make this a unique listening experience. The mixing of a classical and flamenco guitarist gives the music a rather different sound. Some of the works on this disc were written for guitar, others are transcriptions.

This SACD 5.1 recording is very good. Each guitar gets its own channel in front, while the rear channels provide a hint of the recording venue, which was a small chapel in Finland.

The contrast between the classical and flamenco guitar are quite striking. The musicianship is excellent, and the program, mixing some familiar pieces with some that are less known, is a good one.

This is a nice disc to settle down with as the sun sets, when you are in a reflective or contemplative mood.  This is a nice program, with a clean and well-recorded sound!

TrackList:

1 Fantasía Andaluza
Manuel de Falla (1876–1946):
2 Homenaje “Le Tombeau de Debussy”
3 Danza del molinero (El sombrero de tres picos)
4 Danza Española No. 1 (La vida breve)
Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909):
5 Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909):
6 Sevilla (Suite española Op.47)
Trad. – Manuel Granados:
7 Malagueña
Trad.
8 Verdiales
Ricardo Niño (1904-1972):
9 Sierra Nevada
Sabicas:
10 La delicada
Trad. – Federico García Lorca (1898-1936):
11 Nana de Sevilla
Sabicas:
12 Sevillanas

 —Mel Martin

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