The Essential Julian Bream – (Selection of his favorite recordings) – guitar & lute with Melos ensemble/Malcolm Arnold, and harpsichordist George Malcolm – RCA Red Seal (2 CDs) 88697-21340-2, 2 hrs.+ ****:
From his large RCA catalog of recordings, guitarist Bream has chosen selections recorded between 1959 and 1991. They include standards of the Spanish guitar repertory, such as my personal favorite, Recollections of the Alhambra, which opens the first CD. Plus some unusual works, including many written for him by such composers as William Walton, Benjamin Britten and Lennox Berkeley. Bream was probably the first big-name guitarist after Segovia, and he brought to public attention the previously-ignored repertory and beautiful timbre of the lute.
The first disc features mostly modern composer’s works, though it ends with Britten’s Gloriana dances which are based on Elizabethan themes. Then on the second disc he turns to the subtle tones of the lute on just one selection: the first Trio Sonata of Bach. The fiery Introduction and Fandango of Boccherini is a colorful highlight of this disc, and it concludes with the slow movement from Malcolm Arnold’s Guitar Concerto. Was a bit surprised to find no Dowland in the program – the Elizabethan composer Bream introduced to many people. Sonics are well-matched track to track. This is a good collection for either classy background music or in-depth close listening.
TrackList:
1) Recuerdos de la Alhambra [Tárrega]
2-4) Studies No. 7, 8 & 12 [Villa-Lobos]
5) Serenata andaluza [Malats]
6) Fandanguillo, Op. 36 [Turina]
7) Segovia, Op. 29 [Roussel]
8) Bagatelles (5) [Walton]
9) Homenaje “pour Le tombeau de Claude Debussy” [Falla]
10) The Miller’s Dance [Falla]
11) Invocación y danza [Rodrigo]
12-18) Courtly Dances from Gloriana, Op. 53 [Britten]
19) Gallardas [Sanz]
20) Canarios [Sanz]
21) Villano [Guerau]
22) Canario [Guerau]
23) Trio Sonata, BWV 525 [Bach]
24) Rondo Brillant Op. 2/2 [Aguado]
25) Variations on a Theme of Mozart, Op. 9 [Sor]
26) Introduction and Fandango [Boccherini]
27) Rossiniana No. 1, Op. 119 [Giuliani]
28) Valses poéticos (7), H. 147 [Granados]
29) Guitar Concerto, Op. 67: Lento [Arnold]
– John Sunier
