Colori della Toscana
Piera Dadomo /Vincenzo Torricella (Guitar duo)
Christophorus Records: CHE 0216-2
Reviewed 21st March 2019
The music here all has a link with Tuscany, and the duo, who have known one another for 30 years have produced a remarkably varied and satisfying collection of pieces.
The lion’s share goes to Castelnuovo – Tedesco who is represented by first of all, four from the monumental set of Twenty -Four Preludes and Fugues, (Bm, G major, Em, and E Major) and the immediate thing that strikes you is how musically vibrant it all is and, when necessary, how much of a true Allegro they can actually play without it sounding forced. On the basis of this I wish they would record all twenty – four. They are that good. The Sonatina Canonica, a work of great fun in three contrasting movements, and the Fuga Elegiaca, written after the sudden death of Ida Presti in 1967 complete the composer’s contribution, are equally satisfying.
Boccherini’s Introduzione e Fandango is bright and exciting and wonderfully played, whilst Puccini’s Crisantemi is next and a surprising addition because it is so successful as a guitar duet that I wondered why I had never heard it arranged this way before. The arranger is Angelo Gilardino, whose Madrigale e Ballo di Pian dei Giullari the duo provides a world premiere of. It traverses through a number of contrasting sections representing the music, songs and dances of the hamlet near Florence and its effortless musicality make this a wonderful closer to what is one of the best recordings I have come across in the last twelve months.
Chris Dumigan