The great classical
guitarist Julian Bream once referred
to a particular guitar made by the French
luthier Robert Bouchet, which the former
had treasured above all others but was
subsequently stolen, as an "absolute
pearl". This is a most apt description
for this new release.
Much of the music released
on the Naxos ‘Laureate Series for Guitar’
represents that written for the instrument
by guitarists and this anthology is
a typical example. It contains well
known items as well as less familiar
pieces all written predominantly in
the 19th century. Of those
presented, Opus 23 by Giulio Regondi
is the longest work [9:59]. Compositions
by this composer are still being uncovered
and the opus numbers of accessible works
suggest that still more may yet come
to light. The compositions represented
by Arcas, Coste, and Mertz will be less
familiar than those by Tarrega
The recent Julian Bream
DVD, ‘My Life In Music’, further highlights
the intrinsic worth of compositions
from the pen of composers such as Tarrega
and Aguado. Similarly the musicianship
featured here breathes life and vigour
into these original works for guitar,
many of which have been left fallow
for too long.
However it is not predominantly
the music per se which makes
this such a pearl but the artist herself.
Anabel Montesinos is twenty years old,
and since commencing the guitar at the
age of six, has an impressive list of
achievements to her name. After reviewing
her renditions of the Tarrega pieces,
Capricho Arabe, Preludes II, IX and
X, it is not surprising to learn that
she won first prize in the 2002 International
Tarrega Competition in Benicasim. Her
rendition of Introduction and Rondo
by Aguado may not have quite the same
magic as that of Bream (DVD and RCA
RL 14033), but nonetheless it is very
well done.
The beauty of her playing
is challenging to articulate, but conspicuous
by comparison with contemporaries. Her
touch is highly refined. The melodic
lines have a special singing quality
and her tone production, to coin a phrase
from my teenage daughter’s vocabulary,
is "drop-dead gorgeous". While
the instrument used is not specified,
with the kind assistance of the co-producer
Bonnie Silver, the luthier has been
identified as Paco Santiago Marin, Granada.
The combination of this instrument with
the player’s tone production capabilities
is an association made in Heaven.
Our preferences and
opinions are invariably derived from
comparisons and specific points of reference.
Another "pearl" used frequently
as a personal point of reference is
the Lara St. John recording, Bach Works
For Violin Solo - Well Tempered Productions
5542-55180-2. Her playing, especially
in the Ciaccona from BWV 1004, exhibits
those same qualities which are challenging
to articulate but most conspicuous from
multiple comparisons with other players.
The Serious Listener described this
disc as a "collectors item".
I believe the Montesinos disc is in
the same category but an even greater
bargain given the large retail price
differential.
Anabel Montesinos is
a gifted guitarist, a fine musician,
possessing qualities, which set her
apart in a very crowded field. The greatest
guitarist of the 20th century,
the late Ida Presti whose name and amazing
capabilities are relatively unknown
to the world of classical music is ample
evidence that technical mastery and
musicianship alone do not ensure fame
and fortune. I trust that circumstances
will be kind to Anabel Montesinos because
only they can inhibit her future success.
Zane Turner
Anabel Montesinos (guitar) 
