The Rodrigo Collection (1993), DVD & CD Video of Concierto de Aranjuez & Documentary on Rodrigo, “Shadows and Light”

It has become difficult to decide in what section to place combo
packages such as this.  If the video portion is incidental it the
album usual goes in the CD section, but in this case both the CD and
DVD are equally important. The CD is packed with fine performances of
some of the best of the Spanish composer’s works involving the guitar,
played by members of the Romero Family, and on the Concierto andaluz
for four guitars, the entire family.  The CD eschews the most
famous work – the Concierto de Aranjuez – because it is featured in the
excellent concert video performance by Marriner and his forces, with
Pepe Romero as the guitar soloist.  The recordings on the CD were
made earlier with the same performers.

Following the performance on the video is an intimate documentary on
the great Spanish composer, was was 90 years old at the time of the
shooting in l993. The director, Larry Weinstein, speaks of how Rodrigo
had been a legend to him from childhood, with his music typifying all
things Spanish.  The composer’s wife is at his side for much of
their appearances in the film; Rodrigo had been blind since birth but
never let it affect his artistic vision. One of several touching scenes
is the couple walking slowly thru the Aranjuez gardens while you hear
the appropriate music on the soundtrack. This special edition pair of
discs will be a treasure for many music lovers and brings us the best
of both worlds – film and recordings (though it would have been nice if
the CD was a hybrid SACD). Still, it’s worth the slight additional cost
to have the two separate discs instead of the problematical single
DualDisc. And 90 minutes of video would never fit on a DualDisc anyway.

– John Sunier