I assume that this
recital was recorded during 2006. Phelps
is an Adjunct Teacher of guitar at Williams
College and has been now since 1990.
He’s versed in jazz as well as the classical
repertoire and he’s published books
on technique and also, with Fernando
Valenti, six transcriptions of Scarlatti
Harpsichord transcriptions. This being
so it’s a bit remiss of Gasparo not
to identify the particular transcription
Phelps plays on this disc.
The recital ranges
from Scarlatti and Sor to the contemporary
charms of Schoenberg (Steven) and Golub
who were both born in 1952. The Scarlatti
is convincing and pliant whilst the
Sor Op.20 – which if memory doesn’t
defeat me Julian Bream tended to pass
over in favour of some of the other
Sor variational challenges – is well
characterised. Phelps strikes a rather
classical position here which I think
quite right for though he plays warmly
he never neglects the spine that runs
throughout and nor does he promote a
romanticised view at the expense of
stylistic probity.
Lauro’s Valse Venezolano
is a collection of three small,
languid and colourful pieces, old fashioned
in the best sense and an ear-pleaser.
Schoenberg’s Lullaby and Fantasy
has an infant inspiration as one might
infer and makes for delightfully rocking
listening especially with its baroque
tinges. Golub has crafted three short
pieces, little Interludes that describe
the changing times of the day (Day Break,
Mid-day, Lullabye, as spelled). They
range from singingly chivalric to the
unaffected generous, pleasurable additions
to the lighter repertoire.
Britten’s Dowland-inspired
Nocturnal, so reminiscent of
Lachrymae is the great masterpiece
here. I liked the way in which Phelps
evokes the nagging insistence of the
third movement (Restless) and the way
he elsewhere conveys the unsettled and
the insistent. Greatest emotive weight
naturally is reserved for the long and
involvingly complex Passacaglia finale.
With good sound quality,
Phelps proves a handy guide to this
repertoire, not least in the Schoenberg
which was dedicated to him. It’s a miscellaneous
programme that reflects his interest
in new editions, new work and core classics.
Jonathan Woolf
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Rob Phelps (guitar) 
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