Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Fernando Sor, Joaquin Turina :: Guitar Recital: Bach, Sor, Turina, Tippet, Schubert

A mixed bag, but it's good to have some new Bream performanc

Tom Poore | South Euclid, OH | 11/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Julian Bream has retired as a touring concert artist. In his prime, he made some unsurpassed recordings. This BBC CD offers never released recordings from throughout Bream's career. On it you'll find the following:



Bach: Chaconne from BWV 1004

recorded 1975 (studio)



Sor: Variations on a theme of Mozart, Op. 9

recorded 1982 (live)



Turina: Sonata, Op. 61

recorded 1956 (studio)



Tippett: The Blue Guitar

recorded 1984 (studio)



Schubert: String Quartet No. 9, arranged by Bream for guitar duo

recorded 1985 (radio broadcast with John Williams)



Much of this CD has the over-bright sound Bream seemed to favor for his recordings. (This same recorded sound followed Bream when he switched from RCA to EMI.) So you'll hear the usual left hand squeaks and other extraneous noises that plague most Bream recordings. Further, Bream's prime was from about the late 1950's to the early 1970's. After that, his tone was increasingly brittle, and a bit of strain crept into his playing.



Nonetheless, it's a treat to have these performances available. Whatever Bream's faults, he was always a supremely passionate and intelligent artist, far more interesting than many of today's note-perfect automatons. I'm particularly fond of the Schubert--why can't more guitarists take on substantial repertoire rather than the fluff that peppers many guitar programs these days? And the Turina performance is young Bream at his over-the-top best. Some might find it emotionally overcharged, but its youthful conviction is compelling.



Here's hoping there are more Bream performances in the vaults that will soon come to light."