1-3) Antonio
VIVALDI (1678-1741) Concerto
in D Major RV 93 [11:42]
4) Joaquín
RODRIGO (1901-1999) Aranjuez,
ma pensee [6:15]
5) Regino Sainz
de la MAZA (1896-1981) Zapateado
[2:24]
6) Antonio
LAURO (1917-1986) Waltz No.
3 (Natalia) [2:24]
7) Johann Sebastian
BACH (1685-1750) (Transcribed
by Rosalyn Tureck/fingering
by Sharon Isbin)
Keyboard Concerto in F minor BWV
1056: II Adagio [2:52]
8) Laurindo
ALMEIDA (1917-1995) Historia
do Luar (Chôro) [2:09]
9) Gaudencio
Thiago de MELLO (b. 1933) Chôro
Alegre (A Hug for Tiberio) [1:43]
10) John Jacob
NILES (1892-1980) Black is
the Color of my True Love’s Hair [3:38]
11) John Jacob
NILES (1892-1980) Go ‘way
from my Window [3:23]
12) Tan DUN
(b. 1957) Concerto for Guitar and
Orchestra: I Rubato [8:02]
13) Tommaso
ALBINONI (1671-1751)/Remo
Giazotto (Arr. John
Duarte) Adagio [7:52]
14) Toru TAKEMITSU
(1930-1996) Londonderry Air [ 3:47]
15) Francisco
TÁRREGA (1852-1909) Recuerdos
de la Alhambra [4:11]
16) Jean-Paul
MARTINI (1741-1816) Plaisir
d’Amour [3:54]
17) Franz SCHUBERT
(1797-1828) Schwanengesang: No.
4 "Ständchen" [3:56]
18) Johann
Sebastian BACH (1685-1750) (Arr.
John Duarte) Cantata BWV
147: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring [2:58]
19) Christopher
ROUSE (b. 1949) Concert
de Gaudi for Guitar and Orchestra:
I Allegro [7:58]
Sharon Isbin, guitar; Zurich Chamber
Orchestra, Howard Griffiths (1-3, 7,
13, 18) / Susanne Mentzer, Mezzo-Soprano
(4, 10-11, 16-17) / Thiago de Mello,
percussion (6, 8, 9) / Gulbenkian Orchestra,
Muhai Tang (12, 19)
Recording Locations: Harmolodic, New
York, New York, May/June 1997 (6, 8,
9); American Academy of Arts and Letters,
New York, New York, 25-29 March 1998
(4-5, 10-11, 16-17); Teldec Studio,
Berlin, March 1999 (14-15); Gulbenkian
Grand Auditorium, Lisbon, May 2000 (12,
19); ZHO-Haus, Zurich, 15-18 October
2002 (1-3, 7, 13, 18)
This extremely well
filled, eclectic and diverse CD shows
off Sharon Isbin's artistry extremely
well. Its diversity of styles is proven
by the range of Bach (2nd movement
from keyboard concerto in F, BWV 1056
and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, from
Cantata no 147) and Vivaldi (Concerto
in D RV 93) selections on the one hand
and Tan Dun's modern (first movement
from his guitar concerto) and Christopher
Rouse's equally new (first movement
from his "Concert de Gaudi") selections
on the other. This later piece rounds
off the recital with real panache. Music
of all periods is performed with great
éclat and élan. Mezzo-soprano
Susanne Mentzer sings Rodrigo's
"Aranjuez, ma pensée" as well
as "Black is the Color of my True Love's
Hair" and Martini's "Plaisir d'amour".
She sings them as beautifully as I have
heard by any other singer, with the
possible exception of Nana Mouskouri.
Her vocal selections are also interspersed
throughout the album in a most effective
manner. Zapateado by Regino Sainz de
la Maza is despatched with just the
right amount of breeziness as are all
the short "etudelike" pieces. The
great guitar virtuoso Laurindo
Almeida is represented by a short but jazzy
Choro "Historia do Luar"; while another
Choro Alegre (A hug for Tiberio) by
Gaudencio Thiago de Mello is dashed
off with great effusiveness. Albinoni's alleged
"Adagio" is rendered with much pathos as
is Tarrega's romantic "Recuerdos de
la Alhambra". Toru Takemitsu's
almost bluesy "Londonderry Air" provides
a piquant mid-point for the entire
recital. Altogether, this is an excellent
representation of Ms. Isbin's artistry.
Definitely recommended.
Gregory W. Stouffer
WARNER CLASSICS 2564-61591-2 [79:15]
