The Naxos series for
classical guitar is historically and
musically important for that instrument.
It has also provided a vehicle for many
fine, but relatively unknown young guitarists
to gain commercial exposure. This is
challenging in an industry generally
dominated more by economics than musical
excellence.
A recent offering in
this series is ‘Guitar Music’ by Paganini
featuring Marco Tamayo. It is his third
recording for Naxos.
While Paganini’s fame
centres on violin virtuosity and compositions
for that instrument, less known is his
similar relationship with the guitar;
each instrument being an integral part
of his unique personality. The programme
here largely comprises music written
originally for guitar or guitar ensemble.
The music on the last three tracks are
transcriptions for guitar from the original
violin music.
The most substantial
work presented is the Grand Sonata in
A major. This was originally written
for violin and guitar with Paganini’s
friend, guitarist Legnani, performing
the guitar part. It could be described
as unusual because it has three movements
and is the only ensemble work which
Paganini wrote giving the guitar a predominant
role. Averaging around four minutes
in length the other two-movement sonatas
are miniatures but nonetheless most
enjoyable. Ghiribizzi (whims, fancies
or caprices) here comprising five short
pieces, seems to have been written in
or around 1819. It is probably best
described as Paganini’s ‘Album for the
Young’.
Marco Tamayo was born
in La Havana, Cuba; his year of birth
appears nowhere in the accompanying
notes or on his personal website. Given
his impressive list of achievements,
including numerous wins in major international
guitar competitions we may assume he
is in his late twenties.
He commenced playing
the guitar at age three under the tutelage
of his father. He also studied with
Antonio Alberto Rodríguez, Leo
Brouwer and Harold Gramatges. He subsequently
studied violin with Rainer Schmid and
harpsichord with Anthony Spiri and Kenneth
Gilbert. Since 1995 he has lived in
Salzburg and since 2000 has taught at
the Mozarteum there, having taken out
Austrian citizenship. He is also professor
at the Klagenfurt Landeskonservatorium
and the Barcelona Luthier Academy.
Tamayo is a fine musician
and a superb guitarist. His renditions,
especially of the Grand Sonata and Caprice
No 24, are impressive; they exhibit
a technical excellence that allows seamless
interface between technical execution
and unencumbered musical interpretation.
It is interesting to
compare older recordings of the Grand
Sonata in A major by guitarists such
as Julian Bream and John Williams. The
recording made by Julian Bream in 1970
(RCA VR4-71587) personifies the musicality
of this great guitarist. While the approach
may be seen by some as dated, others
will appreciate it as timeless. John
Williams recorded the Grand Sonata several
years before (SBR 235112); it reflects
his technical mastery of the guitar
but the interpretation is rather stolid.
Tamayo manages to incorporate the best
of both and an excellent arrangement
as a bonus - including those beautiful
cross-string trills.
The American-born guitarist
Eliot Fisk, now teaching in Salzburg,
was also a teacher of Tamayo. Fisk has
recorded various of the 24 Caprices
for violin. Some of these recordings
convey a feeling that either the musician
is playing right at the limits of his
technical faculty or the original music
is unsuitable for adaptation to the
guitar. In either case the music is
compromised. As executed by Tamayo,
one is under the illusion that the programmed
three caprices are original compositions
for guitar.
The sonic quality of
this disc is rather striking and on
good reproducing equipment gives the
listener a strong feeling of presence.
Although not mentioned in the accompanying
notes the guitar used in this recording
is by Australian luthier Simon Marty;
such are the beautiful tonal qualities
produced; those who play the guitar
will be keen to know. An added bonus
is production by Norbert Kraft and Bonnie
Silver who have co-produced some of
the best classical guitar discs available.
There is no finer recording
in existence of Paganini’s music for
solo guitar.
Zane Turner
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Marco Tamayo (guitar) 
