Christoph Denoth : Homages : A Musical Dedication : CD

MALATS Y MIARONS : Serenata Espanola:NARVAEZ: Diferencias on Guardame las Vacas; Canción del Emperador (sobre "Mille Regretz" de Josquin des Prez): LLOBET: Canco de Lladre (Thief's song): El Testament d'Amelia (Amelia's Testament) SOR: Variations on a Scottish Theme, ‘Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon’, Op. 40: VILLA – LOBOS:  Suite populaire brésilienne: 2. Schottish-Chôro; Prelude No. 1: Homenagem ao sertanejo brasileiro; Prelude No. 2: Homenagem ao Malandro Carioca; Prelude No. 3: Homenagem a Bach; Prelude No. 4: Homenagem ao Indio Brasileiro; Prelude No. 5: Homenagem ao Vida Social: FALLA: Homenaje A Debussy: TURINA: Sevillianas, Fantasia, Op. 29: ALBENIZ: Mallorca, barcarola, Op. 202: RODRIGO : En Los Trigales.

Christoph Denoth

Signum Classics : SIGCD404

This is Swiss guitarist Christoph Denoth’s second album for Signum Classics and a quick glance at the titles here I see a lot of pieces that are familiar, and yet the idea for them to be gathered together seems a nice one, especially as they are all great pieces of writing. Denoth is certainly up to the challenge of these pieces, as anyone who has heard him play before will realise.

The Malats begins the CD with a really up – tempo feel and is a lovely start. Then one jumps back several hundred years to find two pieces by Luis de Narvaez , and two of his most well – known pieces. The famous Canco de LLadre is played with great feeling and sounds wonderful .Then comes Fernando Sor’s  set of variations on Ye Banks and Braes, which is another fine performance and the only one from the Classical period on this CD. Heitor Villa – Lobos’ guitar works are justifiably some of the most well – known pieces for guitar, as hundreds of people have played them before now. Denoth does a fine job, and one interesting fact that I didn’t know was the actual full titles of the 5 Preludes, complete with the five homages. Maybe I am in the minority but I have never seen them titled like before. Manuel de Falla’s only work for guitar is given a slightly jumpy rhythm which is different from most people’s performances of this moody piece of writing. Have a listen and see what you think but i haven’t heard it like this before. Then we are treated to Turina’s Sevillianas, Fantasia Op29, one of Segovia’s famous pieces, and another lovely very rhythmic version. Isaac Albeniz’s piano work, along with many others of his, work beautifully on the guitar, as a lot of you will know. This arrangement works well, and is a first – class performance once again. Then we get Rodrigo’s fine work En Los Trigales, and another famous piece of writing for our guitar. Of course Rodrigo is never easy to play, but nothing gets in the way of our player, and this is yet again a superb version. The album finishes with Miguel Llobet’s wonderful Testament D’Amelia, one of the Catalan folksongs that he arranged so wonderfully. A great close to the album

The performances are effortless, the recording is very close and clear, and apart from that slight question with regards to the Falla I thought this was a lovely CD that many will enjoy.

Chris Dumigan